Balne village, North Yorkshire

Improving comfort and energy efficiency in a council owned home

  • Location: Balne village, North Yorkshire
  • Scheme: YES Energy Solutions

YES Energy Solutions supported a council tenant in Balne village, North Yorkshire to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of their home through a package of targeted upgrades.

The work was delivered as part of the wider North Yorkshire Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) programme, a £3.82 million retrofit initiative designed to upgrade 150 social homes to at least EPC band C. North Yorkshire Council secured £1.77 million in SHDF Wave 2.2 funding, with the remaining investment provided locally, to support a fabric first programme aimed at cutting carbon emissions, reducing fuel bills and improving the energy performance of some of the county’s least efficient homes. As a delivery partner within this wider programme, we supported the council by managing retrofit activity on selected properties, ensuring all works met SHDF requirements, coordinating technical delivery across contractors and providing full quality, compliance and assurance throughout the project. This case study highlights the specific improvements made to this individual property and the measurable difference these upgrades have brought to the resident’s home.

Why the improvements were needed

Before the work took place, the property had an SAP score of 38.5, giving an EPC rating of low E. This meant the home was losing heat easily and was harder to keep warm, particularly during colder months.

As a council owned rental home, improving energy performance was an important step in creating a warmer, more comfortable living environment for the resident and reducing long term energy demand.

What we did

Working in partnership with Align Property Partners, a council owned consultancy, YES Energy Solutions delivered a coordinated set of improvements designed to work together and improve how the home performs day to day.

The measures installed included:

  • Cavity wall insulation to help retain heat
  • An air source heat pump to provide efficient, low carbon heating
  • Solar PV to generate electricity on site
  • Ventilation improvements to support healthy indoor air quality
  • Each measure was selected to improve comfort, efficiency and reliability for the resident.

The difference it has made

Following installation, the property’s EPC rating increased from 38.5 (low E) to 74.5 (high C).

For the resident, this uplift means the home now holds warmth more effectively and benefits from modern, efficient heating and energy systems. The improvements support a more comfortable living environment and help reduce the amount of energy needed to keep the home warm.

Resident experience

The resident’s experience throughout the work was positive and reassuring.

They felt informed during the process and spoke highly of the installation team, describing them as friendly, professional and respectful of their home. The quality of the workmanship and the care taken to leave the property clean and tidy helped build confidence in the improvements.

Get help 

If you or someone you know is struggling with energy costs, YES Energy Solutions can help. We support households to stay warm, reduce energy use and feel more secure at home.

Contact us