Dunedin Canmore has scooped a prestigious UK energy-efficiency award for work tackling fuel poverty in its Edinburgh communities.

Part of the Wheatley Group, Dunedin Canmore won ‘Housing Association of the Year’ at the annual National Energy Efficiency Retrofit Awards in Birmingham.

The association’s ‘Energy 2020’ initiative delivered a range of energy-efficient improvements, including 200 new gas boilers, enhanced levels of insulation and draft-proof doors and windows.

The ‘Energy 2020’ project also saw customers get money-saving energy advice from Dunedin Canmore’s own Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT).

HEAT advisors visited customers at home and helped people manage fuel bills, switch energy suppliers, apply for discounted schemes and, depending on their circumstances, clear fuel debt.

Over the next four years, the project will focus on making sure the majority of Dunedin Canmore’s homes meet the Scottish Governments Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH).

Dunedin Canmore Chief Executive Ewan Fraser said: “We know that fuel poverty is a very real issue for our customers and part of our strategy across Wheatley Group is to invest more in energy-saving initiatives.

“We have worked hard at Dunedin Canmore to deliver projects that make a real difference to our customers’ well-being. We are delighted to receive this award and we appreciate the recognition of our determination to do the best for our customers and the environment.”

A recent customer survey completed by Dunedin Canmore tenants whose homes were upgraded under the ‘Energy 2020’ initiative found 96 per cent of tenants agreed their home was warmer and 68 per cent believed their health had improved as a result of the improvements to their home.