This Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (27 November) Keep Herefordshire Warm is reminding local residents of the support available for people and families who are struggling to afford their energy bills.
Keep Herefordshire Warm offers free energy advice to residents in the county. For general home energy efficiency advice, call Keep Herefordshire Warm free on 0800 677 1432 to speak to one of their friendly and professional advisors.
Help is completely free, and is tailored to the caller of the helpline, which may include contributions towards energy debt, support on applying for available funding for home improvements, advice on how to manage energy bills, and a free energy pack in the post with gadgets to be used around the home.
There are lots of simple ways to save energy in your home and many will cost you nothing at all. One of those to have benefited from the support available is Herefordshire resident Libby:
My name is Libby, and I’ve had the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme carried out on my home. I had been keeping an eye out, but when I got a letter through the letter box telling me about HUG, I thought ‘that’s exciting'.
I’m very happy with it, I now have green energy in my home and lower fuel bills. I’m very glad I’ve now got green energy in my home, because that’s something that’s very important to me, and I’m sure others will feel that as well.
I’d recommend it to anyone because it’s made a huge difference to my home.
Although HUG is now winding down, the next big initiative is the Warm Homes Local Grant.
Grants will soon be available for insulation improvements (for example loft and wall insulation), first-time double glazing and doors, Solar PV and battery storage technology and clean heat measures (including air source heat pumps) in homes on and off the gas grid.
If you think you may be eligible, visit the web page now.
Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member Environment, said: “Maintaining a properly warmed, energy-efficient home is not only vital for health and wellbeing, it is also a way that households can save themselves money and help to protect the environment against unnecessary energy waste. The Keep Herefordshire Warm service is here to provide free home energy advice and support to all homes in the county, covering simple changes to improve fuel efficiency, reducing your energy bills, or accessing grants to help with heating or insulation. It is always worth keeping an eye on the website for the latest updates and details of new schemes.
“Herefordshire enjoys very strong local communities, and I would urge everybody to bear in mind their friends, family members and neighbours this Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and beyond. If you think that someone may be struggling with the temperature of their home, or facing high energy bills, the best thing you can do is encourage them to call Keep Herefordshire Warm.”
For more information on Keep Herefordshire Warm, please visit the website or call free on 0800 677 1432.