Herefordshire Council is extending its Special Energy Efficiency Scheme to contribute towards keeping the counties’ households warmer this winter.
Grants of up to £500 per household are available for the following energy efficiency measures:

• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall Insulation
• Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
• Hot water cylinder thermostats
• Room thermostats
• Draught proofing
• Hot water tank jacket
• Programmers

Private households will qualify for loft insulation if they have four inches or less of existing depth insulation and cavity wall insulation will be available to all private households regardless of income or area.

Qualifying criteria for heating controls and draught proofing measures under the scheme will remain the following:

• Households that heat their homes using oil, electricity, LPG or solid fuels as the main heating fuel
• Households with an occupant of 60 years of age or greater.
• Households that pay for their fuel via a pre-payment meter.
• Households with an occupant receiving a qualifying income or disability benefit

Councillor Phil Cutter, Herefordshire Council’s energy champion, said: “We know some 10 per cent of households in the county are in fuel poverty and simple measures such as better insulation and heating controls can make a huge difference in reducing bills. Households can save up to £300 a year by being energy efficient and, as fuel costs continue to rise, now is a great time to act before the really cold weather sets in.

“I would urge anyone who thinks they can be helped by the scheme to contact Domestic & General Insulation Ltd on 0844 543 0043 for further advice” he added.

Households can also get help from the government-funded Warm Front scheme that provides grants to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. They provide funding towards a number of measures including:

• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Draught proofing
• Hot water tank insulation
• Energy efficient light bulbs
• Repairs to existing heating
• Gas, electric or oil central heating
• Glass-fronted fires

Grants are for up to £3,500 for gas and £6,000 for oil and other off gas heated homes. If you have applied for a Warm Front grant and there is an excess to pay, contact Private Sector Housing on 01432 260398, as there may be grants available to cover this excess.

Please contact Warm Front for further details on 0800 316 6011 or visit http://www.warmfront.co.uk/

SEES grants of £500 are on offer to all private homeowners in Herefordshire, regardless of income, subject to funding to help towards the cost of utilising renewable energy in the home.  Measures include:

• Solar thermal
• Solar electric
• Biomass boilers
• Wind turbines
• Ground source heat pumps
• Air source heat pumps

There are also grants available for these renewable measures under the central Government funded scheme the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (0800 915 0990)

Hestia are an energy consultant, who manage an interest free loan scheme on behalf of Herefordshire Council called Take the Lead. The measures included under the scheme are:

• Solar thermal
• Solar electric
• Biomass boilers
• Wind turbines
• Ground source heat pumps
• Air source heat pumps

 For more information call 0845 60 20 300.