A new partnership of energy experts is bringing much-needed energy efficiency funding direct to residents living in cold, inefficient homes in the Forest of Dean.
Energy experts Severn Wye and installer Evolve Home Energy Solutions have joined forces to help eligible households reap the benefits of schemes such as ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme.
Hundreds of Forest of Dean residents will be receiving introductory letters followed by a welcome knock on the door over the next few weeks from a Severn Wye community energy adviser.
There are millions of pounds of funding available across the UK for energy efficiency improvements which can help to keep heating bills down and will tackle issues like cold and damp that can make life extremely hard. But it’s not always easy working out how to access it, as Severn Wye’s director of energy services Allison Cawley explains:
‘Funding schemes make it so much easier for people to make their homes warmer and keep bills down, but people aren’t always sure where to go for information about it. This new partnership solves that by bringing the information to them. Together with trusted partner Evolve, we want to help residents navigate available funding confident in the knowledge that the recommendations they’re getting are completely impartial, and that any measures will be installed to the highest standards, from arrival on site to finish.”
Alan Plumridge, partnerships director for Evolve Home Energy Solution agrees:
‘Accessing funding can be tricky but knowing who to trust when an installer knocks on your door is even harder. This important new partnership means residents can be confident they’re getting the best energy efficiency advice for their home, can access funds easily and have the assurance of a highly-qualified installation team that is dedicated to tackling fuel poverty, making homes more energy efficient and reducing energy bills.”
Severn Wye’s community energy advisers will be knocking on residents’ door in Mitcheldean and surrounding villages covering the GL17 postal area during May and June. The scheme is open to homeowners, tenants and landlords.
Long-term energy efficiency measures available under the funding include insulation for cavity walls and lofts, improved heating systems including gas boiler replacements, high heat retention storage heaters and first-time heating systems, together with smart heating controls. Renewables such as air source heat pumps and solar PV, with the option of buying battery storage.
Funding is typically available to households on low incomes or in receipt of certain means-tested benefits. The home must have a low EPC rating of D to F or have a resident with a health condition caused or worsened by living in a cold home.
Home-owners who don’t qualify for government schemes but want to fund their own improvements can talk to the adviser about the services available through the scheme partners.
Image: Community energy adviser Scot visiting households in Mitcheldean
For more information, ask our team about Energy Grants and Funding
