The Glasgow-based housing provider secured a £2.77 million Green Loan facility to undertake a major upgrade to 267 of its residential units.

Supported by additional funding from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, the £4.8m in upgrades to the units’ environmental efficiency will help Calvay’s residents to reduce their energy bills and usage, thanks to the installation of new temperature and humidity sensors, wall insulations, and net zero heat pumps.

Work on the insulation upgrade is set to be completed in time for Calvay’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

Established to improve the housing conditions of local residents, Calvay manages over 860 units in the East End of Glasgow and the Calvay Centre, a community hub in the heart of Barlanark, providing services and activities to help people to gain employment, learn new skills, and socialise.

CAF Bank Green Loans support charities and social purpose organisations through enhanced terms on funding for environmentally beneficial projects.

Commenting on its work supporting local residents and the impact of the financing provided by CAF Bank, Steven Blomer, Calvay Housing Association’s chair, said: “This is a major project which will benefit Calvay’s tenants for years to come. We know fuel poverty is a major issue for many of our tenants and the external wall insulation will make our homes both easier and cheaper to heat.”

Commenting on CAF Bank’s support for Calvay Housing Association, Fraser McKay, CAF Bank’s relationship director for the region, said: “For forty years, Calvay Housing Association improved the lives of countless Glaswegians and I am delighted that CAF Bank has helped them to further this work.

“Providing residents with high-quality, energy efficient homes is just the kind of project CAF Bank Green Loans were created to support.”   

Acting minister for climate action Alasdair Allan MSP said: “With approximately 600,000 homes for social rent in Scotland, the social housing sector is a key partner in decarbonising our buildings and helping us to meet carbon emission reduction targets.

“Helping residents to lower their energy bills through energy efficiency improvements is a key objective of the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, so I’m very pleased that we have been able to support Calvay Housing Association with this project and I look forward to these improvements being completed shortly.”