Energy Efficiency
Our aim is to improve energy efficiency within all homes in the
district to help protect the environment and improve Housing
Standards. To do this we offer advice and guidance on ways for you
to save money at home by using energy more efficiently thereby
reducing your household bills.
We work in partnership with Act on Energy and offer
specialist energy efficiency advice and provide a range of grants
to help you insulate your home and make it more energy
efficient.
Warmer Worcestershire
The Warmer Worcestershire project has produced a thermal image
of the county so you can see how well insulated your home is, and
find out if you could be saving energy and money.
Why not find out how your home performed by locating it on the
Warmer
Worcestershire thermal map.
Warmer Worcestershire also offers information for school and
business and provides
answers to frequently asked
questions abut the thermal image image.
Keep updated on
winter advice and top tips to help you cope.
For more information go to the Warmer
Worcestershire, or Act on Energy on 0800
988 2881
Grants and Subsidies for Home Insulation
In a typical British home, one third of the heat produced by
central heating systems is lost through the roof, walls and
windows. For a poorly insulated property, this meas that £1
out of every £3 spent, is wasted.
If you're considering insulating your home, but think the work
could be too costly, think again.
Discounts of up to around 50% are available to homeowners and
private tenants, through the government's Carbon Emissions
Reductions Target (CERT) scheme, which aims to help households
reduce their carbon emissions by increasing the energy
efficiency of their homes.
This can bring down the cost of loft or cavity wall insulation
to as little as £75 for a typical 2-3 bedroom semi-detached
home.
According to government figures for a previously un-insulated
loft, this could save as much as £145 per year on the cost of
heating your home, which means that you would pay back the cost of
the insulation in only 9 months.
If your loft insulation is significantly less than the
recommended 270mm (approximately ten and a half inches) you should
consider getting it topped up.
For more information contact Act on Energy on 0800
988 2881
Energy Savings Trust - EST
The Energy Savings Trust are offering time limited discount on
loft and cavity wall insulation for £49 for each measure.
EST are currently working with Wolsey UK to provide insulation
material for DIY installation, free home delivery within 15 days
and cost's £3 per roll.
For more information contact Energy Savings Trust on
0121 543 2943
Home Insulation Grants for the over 70's and people on
certain benefits
The government
CERT scheme in partnership with the fuel utilities
companies provides for free cavity wall and loft insulation
measures to home owners and *private tenants aged 70 or over, or to
those on certain benefits (subject to survey and conditions of the
scheme).
For more information contact Act on Energy on 0800
988 2881
Warmfront Grants
A Government funded scheme to provide a package of insulation
and heating improvements.
In order to qualify, households must:
- Receive one of a range of means-tested benefits and
- Be vulnerable on grounds of age (over 60 or with a child under
5) or wish some form of disability, and
- Occupy a private sector dwelling with a particularly low energy
efficiency rating
For the latest details of the scheme visit
Direct Gov
Social Tariffs and Warm Homes Discount
Energy companies are obliged to offer lower cost gas and
electricity tariffs and additional assistance to vulnerable
people. If you are over 60 on a means tested or health or
disability related benefit or on a low income you may qualify for
one of these social tariffs. Each energy company offers their
own version of this social tariff. A summary of all of these
social tariffs is available by contacting Act on Energy on 0800 988
2881
In addition the
Warm Home Discount (available from 1 April 2011) requires
energy companies to provide discounted gas and electricity bills
for elderly people identified as being vulnerable and on very low
incomes.
For more details contact Act on Energy on 0800 988
2881
Renewable Energy Advice
The following technologies produce renewable energy in the form
of heat or electricity. They provide an alternative to power
sources based on non-renewable fossil fuels.
The following technologies will also qualify for funding once
accredited installers and products become available.
Feed in Tariffs (FIT's) are currently available for certain
renewable energy technologies that generate electricity.
They were first introduced in April 2010 and apply to small
scale installations under 5MW. They are designed to provide a
financial incentive to generate electricity using renewable methods
and help reduce the pay back period of the initial investment.
FIT's provide a payment for each unit of electricity regardless of
how it is used. Householders can then use the electricity
that they generate and export any surplus onto the national grid
for a further small payment.
The following technologies qualify for
feed-in tariffs
In order to be eligible for FIT's the system must be installed
by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installer
and registered with the scheme.
The Government is planing to introduce a similar scheme for
renewable energy technologies that generate heat, called the
Renewable Heat Incentive, visit Department of Energy and Climate
Change
For the latest details of Feed in Tariffs or the Renewable Heat
Incentive, visit the
Department of Energy and Climate Change
or call Act on Energy on 0800 988
2881
Planning Permission – Householders must have in
place any required planning consents before applying to the
scheme.
Switching Energy Suppliers
If you are interested in further information regarding your
energy bills and how you could compare your gas and electricity
prices, which better suited your needs, please use the Act on
Energy link and click on the box 'Compare Your Energy Bills
Now'
Leaflets
You may be interested in Act on Energy's leaflets.
