A DRIVE to keep people warmer in their homes has almost finished.
More than 837 houses in Aspley have had solid wall insulation fitted, and many have also had other improvements such as new boilers and loft insulation.
Council tenants also had new kitchens and bathrooms fitted by Nottingham City Homes.
Another 70 homes are scheduled to get the improvements.
The scheme is one of 100 pilot projects across the UK which are part of the government's Community Energy Saving Programme.
Southern and Scottish Energy gave £8,000 per household, with private homeowners making up the rest and council tenants receiving top-up funding through the CESP programme.
Scottish and Southern Energy project manager David Cheesewright said: "The scheme has been a great success with a total investment of over £3 million, and has resulted in 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emission savings from over 1,000 homes.
"These improvements will not only make the homes more energy efficient but will also help to reduce energy bills."
The scheme is run by Nottingham Energy Partnership, a not-for-profit organisation that tackles fuel poverty and carbon emissions. The aim is to reduce heating bills by up to £400 a year.
Sue Stevenson, 66, of Seaton Crescent, was one of the first tenants to receive a whole-house energy makeover through the Super Warm Zone initiative.
Her house was kitted out with internal insulation, a new kitchen and bathroom, a new fire and boiler, a new radiator and solar panels on the roof.
Sue, who has osteoporosis, says she saves about £30 a month on energy bill.
She said: "It has given me a better quality of life. I'm a lot warmer in winter.
"I've always been worried in winter, but now I put it on when it's cold because I know it will right itself in summer. It's been helpful to me not having to worry about getting a large bill."
Nottingham North MP Graham Allen said: "I am sure this has helped many people in my constituency keep warm through the winter and saved them and us from enormous energy bills.
"It's all part of the mix of moving us towards more sustainable energy."
Private tenant Sarah Ward, 33, who lives in an end-terrace house in Welstead Avenue with her father, had external insulation and a replacement boiler fitted more than a year ago and contributed just over £1,000 to the work.
She said: "It's a pretty old house so it looks a bit tidier now. It stays warmer for longer and I've not had to pay as much in bills."
Energy providers must meet CESP targets by delivering energy-saving measures to households in some low-income areas in the country.