ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVICE FOR MID DEVON JANUARY 2011
Help with Improving Your Home Insulation
Insulating your home is one of the most effective measures householders can take to save energy, with up to a third of heat loss in an uninsulated home being through the walls and a quarter through the roof. CosyDevon offers FREE and DISCOUNTED offers for loft and cavity wall insulation to homeowners and private tenants in Devon - helping you keep warm this winter as well as making savings on your fuel bills. So far CosyDevon have installed over 8000 lots of insulation to over 5600 homes. If you are aged 70 or over, or in receipt of qualifying income related benefits, then cavity wall and loft insulation may be fitted free of charge. Deeply discounted rates apply if you are between 60-69 or have a household income of less than £18,000. If you are a ged under 60 and have an annual household income of more than £18,000 other discounted rates apply. To find out more call 0800 512012 which is the Energy Saving Trust's helpline and ask to speak to a CosyDevon advisor who will explain the process to be followed and the terms that apply. Please mention that you have been referred by us and quote MD021. The free and discounted insulation is funded by EON, a major energy supplier and delivered by Energy Action Devon . Further details can also be found on the CosyDevon website http://www.cosydevon.co.uk/
Help for Landlords to make Tenants homes more Energy Efficient
Private Landords Energy Action (PLEA) is a Mid Devon District Council initiative, managed by Energy Action Devon , providing grants for private sector landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their rented properties. Grants are available for landlords with rented property (or properties) in the Mid Devon area, that are either residentially occupied or available for residential occupation (excluding holiday lettings and mobile homes). Grants take the form of "cash back" to the maximum value of £1,000 per property. Insulation measures need to be considered within the property where possible, before heating grants will be allocated. The grant covers the following measures: £500 or 50% of the completed eligible cost (whichever is the lower) towards a new A rated condensing boiler. £500 towards loft and/or cavity wall insulation
To apply the landlord needs to return a completed application form to Energy Action Devon . To find out more please contact Energy Action Devon direct on 01752 235180 or at their website http://www.energyactiondevon.org.uk/landlords/plea-2/ where application forms are available for download.
General advice and help with Energy Savings
There are many other ways to save energy in the home; from low and no cost measures such as drawing the curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping, draught proofing leaky windows and doors, not leaving appliances on standby and using low energy light bulbs where possible, buying energy saving recommended appliances when replacing, as well as home improvements such as updating an old boiler with a new energy efficient condensing model. For further information call the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre on free phone 0800 512 012 for free and impartial advice from a qualified advisor. Alternatively the Energy Saving Trust website has lots of tips and advice on how to stop wasting energy and money also. Go to http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
Help with Heating Improvements
Warm Front is a government-funded initiative that provides grants to make homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient. You may have heard the recent government announcements about available funding for the Warm Front Scheme in the future. Warm Front is now closed for new applications. Funding for this year has now been fully allocated due to high levels of demand for the scheme. This is only a temporary measure. The scheme will accept new applications at a given date after 1 April 2011. The grant is available to people who are on certain income-related benefits and own their own home or rent it from a private landlord. It is particularly helpful in providing heating improvements and in the last 12 months more than 200 households in Mid Devon have received assistance. For gas central heating measures the grant is up to £3,500 and for oil-fired systems up to £6,000. To find out more please contact the Warm Front Team free on 0800 3166011or visit their website http://www.warmfront.co.uk/
