From Love Perry Vale, organised by Cllr Susan Wise
Not easy to find a good on line map of the ward, for anyone who's not sure if they live in it, but this might helpCllr Susan Wise wrote:Perry Vale residents have been awarded funding from the GLA to improve energy efficiency in their homes. Participating households will receive a visit from a professional energy advisor who will asess which energy and water saving devices residents can benefit from, install them and offer practical advice on how to reduce energy use, The scheme is open to everyone in Perry Vale, is completely free with no obligation on the resident's part.
I am taking part in the scheme, and am launching the event on the night. Please attend and learn how to save energy and reduce your energy bills!
I think these professional energy advisors will be the Green Champions whose recruiting Melissa flagged up here. I think I've actually seen the stuff they have to give away - loads of boiler insulation and reflective panels to go behind radiators, and more, I'd guess.
I have to say, I'm curious as to why this is happening this way. In the first place, why has someone in the GLA fixed upon Perry Vale Ward? Are we just part of some randomised trial, or are we known to be particularly poor about saving energy, or has some survey of housing stock indicated that there are a significant number of properties likely to benefit from the scheme?
I'm also interested in how it is being publicised. Focusing as it does on a ward, I'd have expected the Perry Vale Local Assembly to be involved, but as one of the co-ordinating group, I've only heard about it by accident. I also think it bizarre that local councillors, almost uniquely, persist in posting information to Love Perry Vale, when it is clearly so much less active a Forum than this or SE23.com.
Finally, I'm interested in how this project will be evaluated. I'm sure there will be some nice feel good photo-ops of people saying how much money they're looking forward to saving thanks to the scheme, but are there any targets before hand for what they are expected to achieve? Are there any commercial organisations already in the business of selling and fitting such devises who could have been involved as partners in its delivery, whose businesses could thereby have been given a real boost, and Green champions, on £8 an hour, make connections with employers who, if they prove themselves good at what they do, might offer them more work later, if not a permanent job?