For the coming month Wellington people have no-fee access to a scheme that could cut their energy bills. Taunton council is giving away free home energy assessments that normally cost £175. Once householders have had the survey done they then have access to Government money that will cut energy consumption for them
It’s part of getting Somerset involved in the Green Deal, a national scheme launched recently by Whitehall which enables householders to improve the energy efficiency of their home and pay the costs back later through the savings on your energy bill.
Green Deal measures include home-improvements such as
- new heating systems
- wall or loft insulation
- secondary glazing
- draught-proofing.
Repayments are made through the householder’s energy bills, and because the home improvements will cut energy use, the overall energy bills won’t rise.
Step one in accessing Green Deal finance is for an authorised Green Deal Assessor to visit the home. An assessment like this usually costs around £175, but Green Deal in Somerset has more than 800 home energy assessments to give away.
But people need to be quick – the offer ends on 15 March 2013.
The assessment will show which energy efficiency improvements would work best for that particular home, and which improvements could be funded through the Green Deal. The assessment is independent and without obligation. The householder doesn’t have to undertake any of the recommended improvements.
Householders in Western Somerset who want to know more should contact the CSE’s Home Energy Team on Freephone 0800 082 2234 or by email at home.energy@cse.org.uk.
CSE’s James Ryle said: “The Green Deal has a lot to offer, particularly in Somerset which has a lot of ‘hard-to-treat’ homes where people are being hit by high fuel bills. This initiative will get the Green Deal rolling in Somerset.”
There is a website – www.ourgreendeal.net – that will map the areas that have been improved and present the energy efficiency refurbishment of houses as ‘everyday’ and ‘doable’, and allow users to find accredited and reliable local tradespeople and further advice and information.