The nights are drawing in, the temperature is beginning to drop — and if you're starting to worry about those rising winter fuel bills, there's help on hand from Warm and Well.
As well as giving free home energy advice to Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire residents, Warm and Well is supporting off-gas households in the region by offering fully funded Home Upgrade Grants for low income, energy-inefficient homes that don't have gas central heating.
The scheme — delivered in partnership with Severn Wye Energy Agency and Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire Councils — is designed to help off-gas householders make energy-saving improvements to their homes, giving them opportunities to reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint, as well as making their homes easier to heat and power over winter.
Eligible households can access a range of home improvements through the programme, but most begin by benefitting from insulation.
From cavity wall to loft insulation, it's the most effective way to reduce your energy bills and make your home affordable to heat.
Up to 15 per cent of heat loss from a property can occur through an uninsulated ground floor, while as much as a third of all heat escaping from an uninsulated house could be lost through the walls and up to 25 per cent through the roof.
Not all floors, walls and ceilings are built the same, so Severn Wye energy specialists will carry out a detailed property survey before any work is completed. They'll then be able to recommend the best solution for your home — whether you're contending with cavity or solid walls; suspended timber or concrete floors; or your loft would be better suited to rigid board or loose insulation, for instance.
It's not just about insulation either — many households will be offered more than one upgrade as part of the programme, depending on the results of the property survey and their specific needs.
'Families living in rural areas that are not on the mains gas network have been particularly affected by rising energy costs,' said Councillor Chloe Turner, chair of Stroud District Council's environment committee.
'By installing energy saving measures, they will be able to reduce their bills with minimal impact on the environment.'
The Home Upgrade Grant is available to those who:
- Live in Gloucestershire or South Gloucestershire.
- Have no mains gas heating in their home.
- Live in an inefficient home, with an Energy Performance Certificate of D, E, F or G.
- Have a total household income of under £31,000 per year or are in receipt of means-tested benefits.
To find out more about the scheme and to check if you qualify, complete the online form by visiting warmandwell.co.uk/upgradesg.
Alternatively, call the Warm and Well advice line on 0800 500 3076.
