Cut your bills as part of Energy Efficiency Week

As part of Energy Efficiency Week, which begins today (October 22), Herefordshire Council will be promoting the grants available to help people reduce their fuel bills.

The event, being run in conjunction with the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, is being held outside the Morrisons store in Hereford on Thursday (October 25) when experts will be on hand to offer energy advice and help with available grants to make their homes more energy efficient.

Harry Fitch, Herefordshire Council's Home Energy Conservation Association officer, said: "People often do not realise just how many grants and schemes are out there to make their homes more efficient.

"With the cold weather fast approaching now is the time for people to make sure they will stay warm and snug in their own homes by taking advantage of the available help, whether they need their home insulated or have central heating updated or installed.

"Some of the schemes are, however, only available to the most vulnerable as part of the government's commitment to reducing fuel poverty and people should call me on 01432 261887 to see what they qualify for," he added.

The available grants include:

Warm Front: A government-funded scheme which provides grants for such things as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, draught proofing, hot water tank insulation, energy efficient light bulbs and repairs to existing heating. Grants are for up to £2,700 for gas and electrically heated homes and £4,000 for oil heated homes. For further details call 0800 316 2814 or log onto http://www.warmfront.co.uk/ Warm Front offers the over 60s £300 off the repair or installation of a broken heating system. To find out if you qualify contact Warm Front on 0800 3166012.

Herefordshire Council's Special Energy Efficiency Scheme (SEES): Grants of up to £500 per household for energy efficiency measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, thermostatic radiator valves, radiator panels, draught proofing and hot water tank jacket. Grants are also available towards the cost of utilising renewable energy in the home such as solar thermal, biomass boilers, wind turbines and ground source heat pumps.

Energy Supplier Schemes: Most energy suppliers provide funding for cavity wall insulation and loft insulation under The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC). Funding does vary depending on utility company, and house size and type.
A local insulation company, Domestic & General Insulation Ltd, run a scheme to offer discounted loft and cavity wall insulation. This is also funded through EEC. For further information please contact D&G on 0800 013 2910.

SHEES: For vulnerable households grants may be available under the Council's Special Energy Efficiency Scheme for Heating (SHEES) for new boilers and central heating systems. These include energy efficient condensing boilers, biomass boilers, ground source heat pumps. For further details contact hfitch@herefordshire.gov.uk or call 01432 261887.

Magic Boiler Scheme: For households that do not qualify for a grant towards a new boiler, the Magic Boiler Scheme offers discounted boilers and central heating controls. This scheme is run by Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. Current building regulations state that all boilers installed must be A or B rated, and the discounted boilers offered under this scheme are all A rated.
For more information about this scheme please contact the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012.

Landlords and tenants

There are grants available for privately rented properties for loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, hot water tank jackets and draught proofing. The level of grant varies depending on the tenant, but can be 100 per cent of the cost of the works. This programme is managed by the Energy Savings Trust. Contact them directly for more information (0845 674 5555). The Landlords Energy Saving Allowance can help people claim back their investment to insulate their home when completing a tax return.