Council scheme takes resident’s home efficiency rating from lowest to highest.
A Staffordshire resident has seen their home energy efficiency rating go from the lowest to the highest and all for free thanks to a county council scheme.
Staffordshire County Council’s Warmer Homes scheme helped Barbara from Norton Canes take her home energy rating from a rating of G to an A, the highest rate possible.
When Barbara contacted the team in 2023, she was desperately in need of help to heat her home, especially during the winter months. Now, thanks to the scheme, she’s enjoying a cosier home and cheaper energy bills.
The rating was achieved by installing green energy solutions, including loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, an air source heat pump and solar panels, all fully funded by the scheme.
Barbara said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the scheme and how it has helped improve my house’s energy efficiency.
“I now have a warm, cosy house and lower energy bills, which is great and it didn’t cost me anything. I was eligible through the low-income threshold, and I didn’t need to be unemployed or on any kind of benefit. The team were great and provided all the necessary advice and made the arrangements to have the work done. I’d highly recommend the scheme to others; it really is amazing.”
Since launching in 2019, the scheme has installed over 1,325 new heating solutions in people’s homes, saving residents on their home heating bills, whilst preventing 1,547 tonnes of carbon being created.
Simon Tagg, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change at Staffordshire County Council said: “This is a great scheme that’s helping improve heating efficiency in older homes.
“Fitting new energy efficient and renewable heating measures will really help to keep our residents warm, reduce their carbon footprint as well as saving them money.”
Eligible households must earn less than £31,000 per year, or be on a means tested benefit, and be off the main gas network. It is run in partnership with district and borough councils and Community Home Solutions.