Energy Efficiency Advice

Energy efficiency is a key issue, being not only a priority for government and many independent organisations in the UK but also of global importance. Being energy efficient not only helps the environment, but can help householders in reducing energy bills and also be beneficial to our health.

The Private Housing Section is able to offer free and impartial advice relating to energy efficiency. Alternatively, there are a number of organisations that can be contacted to give you more in depth information. Please click on the links or contact us on the numbers given below.

Energy Savings Trust

The Energy Savings Trust was set up after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit They are a non-profit organisation that promotes energy saving, funded by government and the private sector. They provide independent advice to home owners, businesses and schools on all energy matters including:

• Insulation
• Fuel
• Grants
• Renewable Energy, such as wind and solar power.

You can complete on-line energy questionnaires to see how efficient your property is and what improvements can be made. You can alos click on the link below. This to will help you in finding the best deal in terms of energy efficiency improvements (grants and discounts etc) specific to where you live and house type.

Grants and Discount Database

Energy Efficiency Advice Centre

The Energy Advice Center (run by Energy Savings Trust) offers free, impartial advice to householders on all aspects of energy efficiency. They work closely with all the local authorities in the region to help cut the amount of energy used in homes. They also sell a selection of energy efficient products ranging from light bulbs to water powered alarm clocks.

Telephone Number: 0800 512012

Energy Saving Secrets

Save energy, money and the environment by visting the Energy Savings Secrets site. It offers tips and advice on having a greener lifestyle and news on all energy issues.

Heatseekers

With the cost of fuel rocketing, we hope that Charnwood residents will benefit from Heatseekers, which is an innovative scheme brought to you by the Energy Saving Partnership (part of the Mark Group) in Partnership with the council.

Heatseekers is a new way of identifying unnecessary heat loss from your home. By using a thermal imaging camera mounted within a vehicle to scan the exterior of the property, any heat loss that could be reduced through improved insulation can be identified with ease. 

The HeatSeeker vehicle will be visiting areas within the Borough and using the unique thermal imaging technology to identify properties that may benefit from improved insulation. As part of this scheme, HeatSeekers will contact homeowners via letter, to advise them that a representative will be calling to arrange a detailed survey to offer advice on any insulation works that they could benefit from. Homeowners will also be shown a copy of the thermal image of their property (if available). Homeowners will be under no obligation to have any works done or to participate any further with the scheme and if they wish to 'opt out', they can call the Heatseekers Team free of charge on (0800) 111 4968 to do this. All Heatseekers representatives will be carrying identification.

If you are aged over 70 or in receipt of a qualifying benefit, you will qualify for free insulation under the scheme, which is open to all home owners and those renting from a private landlord (landlord consent will be required).

If you require further information, please contact the Heatseekers Team on (0800) 111 4968.

Warm Front

Warm Front is a government funded scheme which provides grants to help make your home warmer and more energy efficient. For more information on Warm Front grants, please call 0800 3162814 or visit our Warm Front Hardship Grants page

Go Green for Free!

Nicky Morgan, Member of Parliament for Loughborough, is urging her constituents to save money from their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions under a free scheme run by British Gas.

This summer, Britain’s largest domestic energy supplier is set to help up to 50,000 of the UK’s most hard-pressed households by offering up to £10 million-worth of free energy assessments and energy efficiency measures.

The measures could cut energy bills by around £250 per year for each home. In addition to making financial savings, the households will also be doing their bit for the planet, cutting their carbon emissions by a total of nearly 10,000 tonnes across the country – the equivalent of nearly 50,000 people travelling to America by jumbo jet.

To be eligible for the free makeover, households need to be British Gas customers and either over 70 or on income or disability related benefits.

British Gas will be working with charities, such as National Energy Action, the RNIB and Scope to ensure that help is targeted where it is most needed.

Nicky Morgan MP said:

“The best way for people to cut their energy bills is to use less energy. The best way to do that while staying warm and keeping the lights on is to make our homes more energy efficient. There are many people in Loughborough who will benefit from free energy efficiency measures and, during these financially difficult times, save money.”

Maria Wardrobe, Director of Communications at the NEA, said:

"This scheme is an excellent opportunity for vulnerable people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. It will help cut energy bills and at the same time contribute to carbon saving."

Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas, said:

“Improving energy efficiency in our homes is the quickest way to cut our bills and lower carbon emissions. And this initiative will particularly help our most vulnerable and hard-pressed families.

“By targeting free energy assessments and other measures at those who need it most, we can make a real difference to the quality of their lives and do our bit for the planet at the same time.”

The British Gas in-home energy assessment is a full energy efficiency survey of the home. All households will receive a personalised and printed energy assessment, which will include behavioural, energy efficiency and money-saving advice as well as a free insulation survey. Eligible households will also receive free insulation and other products, such as electricity monitors and standby savers.

Energy efficiency is the quickest and easiest way to save money on energy bills. Simple measures such as loft insulation can save £150 per year. Many homes do not have the basics in place with 5.5 million homes, more than a fifth, in the lowest two bands of energy performance and nearly 13 million lofts without the recommended depth of insulation.

Uk Energy Saving

The UK Energy Saving website is designed to point you in the right direction for advice and tips on UK Energy Saving in your home. It also provides information on green living, such as fair trade, recycling and saving water.

The Pension Service

If you are in receipt of the State Pension, then you may be entitled to Winter Fuel Payments. The payments are paid annually by The Pension Service and are paid at different rates. For more information, you should visit the website or call the helpline on 0845 9151515

Eco House

Eco House is an show house designed and built to incorporate many environmentally friendly and efficient features. It is open to the public and should be visited if you are looking for ideas on how to improve you own property. For more informtion, visit the Groundwork Leicester & Leicestershire website or call 0116 2220222. The organisation can also give advice and information on how to take steps towards creating a more sustainable future

Energy Efficiency for Business and Public Sector

The Carbon Trust is an independant organisation that is funded by Government. Their role is to help the UK move to a low carbon economy by helping business and the public sector reduce carbon emissions now and capture the commercial opportunities of low carbon technologies.

Telephone Number: 0800 085 2005