October 28, 2009
NEARLY 2,000 VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS BENEFIT FROM WARMER AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT HOMES
A RECORD number of local people benefited from the Government’s Warm Front initiative last year.
Nearly 2,000 households in the Wentworth constituency have now been helped to save money on energy bills and cut their home’s carbon emissions.
To the end of August 2009 1,825 fuel poor households had heating or insulation fitted – a total spend of nearly £3m in the area.
This is up from just over 1,000 households receiving £1.4m worth of work between the start of the scheme in 2005 and March 2008.
John Healey, the MP for Wentworth, said: “The Warm Front scheme helps people improve their home’s energy efficiency and is vital in helping increasing numbers of people who are finding energy bills a heavy burden.”
Warm Front provides grants of up to £3,500 towards insulation and gas heating measures and £6,000 for oil heating to low income families, the elderly or people with disabilities.
Scheme manager eaga plc has reported that over 60s are most likely to benefit in Wentworth, with over 1,000 having energy efficiency measures like loft and cavity wall insulation, new heating systems and draught proofing.
The work cuts carbon emissions from a typical house by a tonne and the average family reports that energy bills are cut by between £300 and £600 a year.
To qualify for a Warm Front grant, householders need to own their own home or rent from a private landlord and must be receiving an income or disability-related benefit. To apply contact the Warm Front team on 0800 316 6014.