Winter Warmers
We would like to send everyone warm wishes for the New Year but, with the rise in electricity and gas prices, more and more households are finding themselves in fuel poverty (needing to spend more than 10% of their income in order to heat their house to an acceptable level of warmth).
One of the key drivers of household energy costs is the thermal efficiency of a home (or how quickly it cools down when the heating is turned off). In practice, many fuel-poor households tend to underheat their homes, often because of the financial constraints they face, meaning that they live in cold conditions. According to the Energy Savings Trust, the average home could save around £145 per year by installing loft insulation and £110 per year by installing cavity wall insulation.
The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation improvements to households on certain income-related benefits living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system to make homes warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. Grants are available for improvements such as loft insulation, draughtproofing, cavity wall insulation, hot water tank insulation, heating or a glass-fronted fire.
Three Rivers District Council supports a scheme administered by Herts and Essex Energy Partnership (HEEP) which currently offers loft and cavity wall insulation free, regardless of financial situation (subject to conditions - including a technical survey and property size) for home owner occupiers who would like to keep warmer in the winter by improving the thermal efficiency of their home.
If you or someone you know is facing a cold winter then don’t delay as, due to changes in the funding mechanisms, these offers won’t be around for much longer.
News Flash : It has just been announced that Hertfordshire has received £0.5m funding to help keep people warm and well this winter. Anyone worried about keeping warm and well can contact the HertsHelp helpline for information and advice on 0300 123 4044.