Warm Wales Launches New Company Warm Wales is excited to announce the development of ‘Co-Cymru’ a new community interest company within the group.  Co-Cymru offers community regeneration services to customers, focusing on employment, training and community friendly procurement.  To assist them in this venture they have been joined by Rachel Moxey, an expert in social regeneration.  Rachel was until recently the Head of Employment and Social Procurement for the Welsh Government’s Regeneration Division.  She ran the uniquely successful JobMatch programme across the Heads of the Valleys area.  Rachel is assisted by Mandy Summers, bringing specialist expertise in the development of employment and training packages for employers.  Warm Wales was set up in 2004 by National Grid and has successfully offered support to individuals, local authorities and housing associations in Wales to reduce their energy bills by introducing renewable energy technology to homes and buildings.  Phil Roberts, CEO of Warm Wales said ‘this exciting new development enables us to offer holistic regeneration solutions to communities in Wales.  Warm Wales has always created employment and this development will enable us to give this area of our work real drive’.  Rachel feels that ‘regeneration only counts if you are able to put cash in the pockets of local people.  By offering them jobs or opportunities to develop their skills we can do this.’  She further added ‘The Welsh Government has announced only this week its drive to ensure that local people gain employment benefits from all their redevelopment activity.  Company’s, local authorities and housing associations in Wales will be looking for creative solutions to achieve this and we would be delighted to help.’  For further information please contact rachel.moxey@co-cymru.org.uk or follow this link

Mae’r prosiect, sydd wedi ei leoli yng nghymuned ymddeol The Beeches ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, yn ffrwyth partneriaeth rhwng Cymru Gynnes, WWHA a Wales & West Utilities Cyf. (WWU) i ddechrau’r fenter tlodi ynni sydd i’w gweithredu ym mhob rhan o Gymru.

“Rydw i wrth fy modd fod y cynllun hwn i ddod â gwres cost effeithiol i’r sawl sy’n byw yn The Beeches ym Mhen-y-bont wedi bod mor llwyddiannus,” meddai Mr Jones, yr AC dros Ben-y-bont. “Rydw i ar ddeall mai dyma’r prosiect cyntaf o’i fath yng Nghymru, ac rydw i’n falch iawn ‘mod i wedi gallu helpu’r trigolion i ddechrau’r prosiect.”

Dywedodd Phil Roberts, Prif Weithredwr Cymru Gynnes: “Rydyn ni’n hynod falch fod y corff rheoleiddio, Ofgem, a Wales & West Utilities wedi creu’r trefniadau yma i gartrefi yng Nghymru a de-orllewin Lloegr. Rydyn ni’n ffyddiog y bydd y drefn newydd yn darparu’r ddolen goll yn y gadwyn ariannu i nifer fawr o deuluoedd. Does gan drigolion ddim byd i’w golli, ac o bosibl lawer i’w ennill o fod wedi treulio rhai munudau’n rhoi atebion i ni.”

Dywedodd Graham Edwards, Prif Weithredwr WWU: “Mae hwn yn gam positif iawn ymlaen wrth ddatrys materion tlodi ynni, ac rydyn ni wrth ein bodd i fod wedi gweithio gyda Cymru Gynnes a Wales & West Housing Association i sicrhau fod y gymuned ymddeol hon ymhlith y gyntaf i elwa ar y cynllun.”

Mae’r cynllun tlodi ynni i ymestyn rhwydwaith nwy WWU i gymunedau sydd mewn tlodi ynni, ac unigolion sydd hyd yn hyn wedi methu manteisio ar gysylltiad i nwy o’r prif gyflenwad, yn dilyn cytundeb gyda chorff rheoleiddio’r diwydiant, Ofgem. Bydd Cymru Gynnes yn gweithio gyda WWU i helpu cyfleu’r fenter.

Cymru Gynnes sydd yn gyfrifol am werthuso ceisiadau ochr yn ochr â’r amodau a bennir gan y corff rheoleiddio. Gallan nhw hefyd adnabod cymorth ychwanegol i’r sawl nad ydynt yn ymwybodol o’r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael am arbedion a chefnogaeth ar gyfer gwresogi ac arbed ynni.

Golygodd y prosiect hwn greu cysylltiad nwy i leoliad y cynllun (o’r prif gyflenwad nwy yn y brif ffordd sy’n rhedeg o flaen y lleoliad), tynnu gwresogyddion storio trydan a silindrau dŵr poeth a gosod yn eu lle foeleri newydd arbed ynni, cyfunol a chywasgu ynghyd â systemau gwres canolog newydd. Mae gan y rhain falfiau rheoli gwres thermostatig, amserydd a rhaglennydd. Mae’r boeleri’n caniatáu i dymheredd y gwresogi a’r dŵr poeth gael eu rheoli yn annibynnol ar ei gilydd. Mae’r rhaglennydd wedi cael ei gynllunio i gael ei ddefnyddio gan bobl sydd yn rhannol ddall.

Llwyddodd Cymru Gynnes i dynnu at ei gilydd becyn ariannu, a gweithio gyda’r partneriaid allweddol i alluogi i’r prosiect ddigwydd. Buasai’r gwaith nwy (cysylltu gwasanaethau a phibau) fel arfer wedi costio ychydig dros £30,000 ond ariannwyd e 100% gan y cynllun grant newydd a gynigiwyd gan WWU. Cafodd trigolion eu cymhwyso am gymorth grant ar sail naill ai oedran neu fudd-daliadau a dderbyniwyd. Lleihawyd costau’r systemau gwresogi newydd trwy grantiau ychwanegol. Cymru Gynnes wnaeth y trefniadau grant cysylltu nwy ar ran WWHA, fel partner ‘lles y gymuned’ WWU, a chyflwyno WWHA i gyfleoedd eraill am grantiau i leihau cost gosod y system wresogi newydd.

Cwblhawyd y gwaith yn gyflym, o fewn ychydig wythnosau. Cynhaliwyd agoriad swyddogol lle dathlodd y Prif Weinidog Carwyn Jones gyda holl bartneriaid y prosiect a thrigolion y gymuned. Mae ymateb y trigolion yng nghymuned The Beeches wedi bod yn bositif iawn.

Pam fod Cymru Gynnes yn wahanol?

Mae Cymru Gynnes yn Gwmni cofrestredig Lles y Gymuned sy’n gweithredu ar sail ‘ddim er  elw’. Mae’n ail-fuddsoddi ei arbedion busnes yn y prosiectau mae’n eu cyflawni o fewn y cymunedau lle mae’n gweithio i sicrhau etifeddiaeth o gyrhaeddiad cadarnhaol. Mae’n cynnig ymgynghori, rheoli prosiect a gwasanaethau i wneud y mwyaf o ffynonellau ariannu. Mae Cymru Gynnes yn credu mai nhw ydy’r unig sefydliad sy’n cynnig y cyfuniad unigryw hwn o wybodaeth, arbenigedd a mynediad i ariannu yn y sector dai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru.

Mae Cymru Gynnes yn gallu cyflawni prosiectau tebyg ar draws Cymru, gan roi pecyn o gymorth grant at ei gilydd a chreu cyfuniad o’r partneriaid mwyaf addas. Os hoffech chi dderbyn mwy o wybodaeth am y prosiect neu rydych chi am wybod os gall Cymru Gynnes eich helpu chi, gallwch chi ffonio: 01639 825960, mynd i www.cymrugynnes.org.uk neu e-bostio enquiries@warmwales.org.uk.

Warm Wales – Cymru Gynnes (WWCG) are delighted to have been commissioned by a number of social housing providers to help deliver schemes throughout Wales which are being funded under the Welsh Assembly Government ‘Arbed’ programme.

‘Arbed’ (meaning ‘Save’) is a £30 million fund sourced primarily from the Strategic Capital Investment Fund (SCIF) and the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (the initiative is also known as the ‘Strategic Energy Performance Investment Programme’). Phase 1 of ‘Arbed’ (2010 – 2011) is focused specifically on energy efficiency improvements to homes in economically deprived communities within Wales.

This groundbreaking scheme is intended to tackle climate change, help eradicate fuel poverty and boost economic development and regeneration within Wales. Most importantly the improvements to the housing stock under the ‘Arbed’ scheme will ensure that long term solutions are put in place to future proof Welsh homes.

Wales is leading the way in the UK with this innovative scheme and WWCG and its partners will not only be focusing on helping those most in need by reducing fuel costs and alleviating fuel poverty, but also making local job creation and training a key part of each and every project.

Also key to this scheme along with the generation of local training and employment is the economic opportunities for Welsh businesses. The design, manufacture, distribution, installation and maintenance of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy/heat technologies is a priority, and will be sourced locally.

As a forward thinking and highly successful Community Interest Company WWCG are able to access grant aid under Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) from a number of sources. Our grant funding enables us to provide innovative financial solutions for initiative schemes such as ‘Arbed’, maximising the benefits to each and every community involved. Working with communities WWCG has already delivered more than £30m of investment into Wales, with funding obtained from a range of partners creating energy savings in excess of £52m.

WWCG are committed to delivering a wide range of measures, in the area of sustainable energy and regeneration, in support of Assembly policies to help and assist Welsh residents in every way possible. Our aim is to ensure that sustainable housing ceases to be seen as a novelty, but instead becomes the everyday solution to tackle climate change and fuel poverty.

Our services include:

• training, knowledge and skills development;
• professional advice, design and project management services and
• access to funding sources.

At this time of rapid change, there is a need for specialist support and practical advice. Our dedicated team is supported by a network of specialist associates.

Our associates include:

• the Design Research Unit of the Welsh School of Architecture;
• BRE Wales;
• the European Housing Ecology Network, along with other specialists.

With these resources, we can offer a range of services for new-build and retrofit schemes, for example:

• the consultancy service will provide specialist technical support and advice and guidance to social landlords and developers;
• we are offering to design and develop a range of housing projects, in partnership with local authorities, RSLs and developers;
• we will offer to design, build and project manage new-build housing to code 5 and 6 of the code for sustainable homes.

Bydd y grant Arbed o £1.6m yn helpu ariannu cynllun gwerth £2.3m o welliannau effeithiolrwydd ynni i’r 124 o dai Charter a chartrefi preifat/cyhoeddus eraill yn Markham fel ei gilydd. Mae’r mesurau arfaethedig gan Arbed yn cynnwys insiwleiddio muriau mewnol ac allanol, dŵr poeth wedi ei wresogi gan yr haul a phaneli ffotofoltaidd. Mae Cymru gynnes ac Npower yn chwilio am ariannu ychwanegol gan y Bartneriaeth Arbed Ynni Cymunedol (CESP) i dalu am fesurau eraill, gan gynnwys arolygon asesu ynni yn y cartref, insiwleiddio llofft, cysylltiadau nwy newydd a systemau gwres canolog i gartrefi tanwydd solet, uwchraddio systemau gwresogi cyfredol, ac unedau defnydd ynni amser go iawn.

Bydd prosiect Markham yn rhedeg o fis Ebrill 2010 tan fis Mawrth 2011. Mae’r prosiect hefyd yn ceisio creu hyfforddiant a chyfleoedd cyflogaeth i bobl leol, gan gynnwys tri Warden Ynni Cymuned, wedi eu hariannu gan Gronfa Swyddi’r Dyfodol.

Cronfa o £30m ydy Arbed, wedi ei ariannu fwyaf gan y Gronfa Buddsoddiad Cyfalaf Strategol (SCIF) ac Adran Ynni a Newid Hinsawdd y DU (adnabyddir y fenter hefyd dan yr enw ‘Cynllun Buddsoddiad Perfformiad Ynni Strategol’). Mae Cymal 1 Arbed yn canolbwyntio’n benodol ar welliannau effeithiolrwydd ynni i gartrefi mewn cymunedau sy’n amddifad o adnoddau o fewn ardal Blaenau’r Cymoedd.

Ffeithiau allweddol:

• Cyfanswm y cartrefi yn Markham: 624
• Cyfanswm nifer y mesurau arfaethedig: 2,154
• Cyfanswm cost y cynllun: £2,320,598
• Cyfanswm grant ariannu Arbed: £1,600,000
• Ariannu ychwanegol gan y Bartneriaeth Arbed Ynni Cymunedol (CESP), y Targed Lleihau Lledaeniad Carbon (CERT) a chyfraniad Charter.
• Cyfanswm posibl arbediadau biliau ynni i gartrefi yn Markham: £169,129 per annum
• Arbediad oes CO2 o ganlyniad i wella cartrefi yn Markham: 24,738 tunnell fetrig

Mae’r ddau gwmni’n gyrff “ddim am elw” heb gyfranddalwyr. Mae unrhyw ‘ormodedd’ sy’n cael ei gynhyrchu gan gwmnïau BRE yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn cynlluniau ymchwil ac addysg yn y sector adeiledig, tra bod gornifer Cymru Gynnes yn cael ei ail-fuddsoddi yn y cymunedau mae’n eu gwasanaethu.

Trwy gydweithio, mae BRE a Cymru Gynnes mewn sefyllfa unigryw i gynnig ymgynghori, arweiniad a hyder i gyflenwi lefel uchel o gynaliadwyedd mewn ffordd fforddiadwy, rhwydd i’w dyblygu.

Am wybodaeth bellach, lawrlwythwch y Côd ar gyfer Cartrefi Cynaliadwy ac Adnewyddiad Cynaliadwy (pdf).

Phil has a Masters degree in environment architecture and is a chartered surveyor. As a senior executive of long standing and a leading and influential figure in the Welsh social housing sector, Phil brings his considerable experience in housing and business development to Warm Wales. He moves from his previous post as Deputy Chief Executive with Grwp Gwalia Cyf where he expanded the business beyond the traditional roles associated with providing affordable housing. Phil’s inspiration led to the development of outstanding new build and regeneration projects, which combined high quality design with environmental principles and technologies. Phil also has a particular interest in the management and development of construction supply chains within Wales.

Phil is a Member of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, visiting lecturer and Honorary Research Fellow with the Welsh School of Architecture and continues with his role as Chair of Wood Knowledge Wales.