PR1519/CA/MF
19 January 2012
Mid Sussex District Council is helping local residents to stay warm at home this winter by offering free visits from qualified energy assessors.
With the cold winter weather continuing to bite and the price of energy on the rise, many residents in Mid Sussex will be concerned about the cost of heating their homes. Mid Sussex District Council is looking to help those people who are having difficulty paying their energy bills by offering free home visits from energy saving experts.
Mid Sussex District Council has worked alongside Adur District Council, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Worthing Borough Council, to secure £617,800 from the Department of Health for the Warmer West Sussex project.
As part of the Warmer West Sussex project, Home Energy Assessors will be available to visit residents and provide advice on how to get the best deal from energy suppliers, use heating controls effectively or generally keep warm and save energy in the home. The energy saving experts will also be able to direct residents towards support schemes, such as the Warm Front project, that provides grants for heating and insulation.
Every resident who signs up for a home visit will receive up to £50 worth of energy saving equipment free of charge, including draft proofing measures, hot water tank jackets and energy monitors.
The Warmer West Sussex project funding also helps to support the work of local voluntary organisations. The West Sussex Citizen’s Advice Bureau will be able to carry out home visit benefit checks to make sure residents are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled, the British Red Cross and Parish Councils will be able to purchase additional winter kits to help the local community tackle severe snowy weather and the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service will have increased capacity to deliver fire safety checks in the home.
“Nobody should be suffering from the cold in their own home,” said Councillor Christopher Snowling, Cabinet Member for Health and Community. “People may be tempted to try and save money this winter by leaving the heating off but I want our residents to know that this is not the only way to reduce heating bills.”
“By contacting Climate Energy and arranging a free visit from a home energy assessor, you could discover just how many ways there are to save energy and reduce your heating bills,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “The assessors provide practical assistance as well as useful advice. A simple phonecall is all that is needed for an expert to come out, visit you in your own home, and tailor help to your specific needs.”
Residents who are having difficulty paying their gas and electricity bills can apply to receive a free visit from a Climate Energy home energy assessor, by calling 0800 0546815. For more information on the Warmer West Sussex project, please contact Celia Austin, MSDC Sustainability Officer, by emailing sustainability@midsussex.gov.uk.
ENDS
