Free home energy improvement advice to help cut energy bills
Residents across Gateshead can benefit from a free service offering advice on reducing their energy bills.
Home Energy Advice North East provides free, expert guidance to help people identify energy-saving improvements for their homes, apply for grants and connect with local installers. It's a one-stop shop for people wanting to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Home Energy Advice North East is a £2 million programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. It is delivered by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the North East Combined Authority.
As part of this programme, local community and environmental charities, Groundwork NE & Cumbria and Community Action Northumberland are offering free home visits from their team of energy advisors. During the free-of-charge visits, lasting between one and two hours, the impartial experts will offer practical advice on reducing energy bills as well as home energy improvement advice tailored to each property.
Groundwork NE & Cumbria is redoubling its efforts, aiming to visit 360 households by December and organising energy advice events across the North East before winter sets in.
As well as identifying quick energy-saving wins, such as adjusting boiler temperature and checking the user's energy tariffs, the visits also identify larger-scale home improvements such as wall and loft insulation, solar panels and new heating options to significantly reduce energy costs.
Following the assessments, the energy advisors discuss their findings with the householder, providing indicative costs of the work needed and calculations on the savings that would be made in fuel bills, energy use and carbon emissions.
The advisors also provide help, advice and guidance on grant funding and whether residents are eligible. If people qualify for financial assistance, the team can assist with the grant application process, and provide links to local installers and support households while the work takes place.
Rebekah Vickers, Greener Living Coordinator at Groundwork NE & Cumbria said: "We urge people to call us for a free home visit. We want to help as many people as possible avoid fuel poverty this winter and tackle the longer-term issue of poor energy efficiency in the North East housing stock. The energy advice we offer will reduce the risk of people having to choose between heating or eating this winter and could deliver long-term energy and cost savings."
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council, said: "Far too many people in Gateshead and across the North East have really struggled during the cost of living crisis, so any programme which can offer support like this is incredibly important.
"It is also important that Home Energy Advice North East has an impact on reducing energy usage and therefore carbon emissions, as we move towards our 2030 carbon neutral target."
Dame Norma Redfearn DBE, portfolio holder for housing and land at the North East Combined Authority and Elected Mayor of North Tyneside said: "People in this region have been hard hit by rising energy costs and the cost of living crisis, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help. This programme is a fantastic way of taking help directly into people's homes, helping them save money on energy bills and making homes more energy efficient which will also support the North East's efforts to tackle climate change.
"We want to encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of this support and find out how to cut costs and make their homes warmer this winter."
To request your free home visit or to find out more, visit the Energy Advice North East website (opens new window).
Residents across Gateshead can benefit from a free service offering advice on reducing their energy bills.
Home Energy Advice North East provides free, expert guidance to help people identify energy-saving improvements for their homes, apply for grants and connect with local installers. It's a one-stop shop for people wanting to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Home Energy Advice North East is a £2 million programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. It is delivered by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the North East Combined Authority.
As part of this programme, local community and environmental charities, Groundwork NE & Cumbria and Community Action Northumberland are offering free home visits from their team of energy advisors. During the free-of-charge visits, lasting between one and two hours, the impartial experts will offer practical advice on reducing energy bills as well as home energy improvement advice tailored to each property.
Groundwork NE & Cumbria is redoubling its efforts, aiming to visit 360 households by December and organising energy advice events across the North East before winter sets in.
As well as identifying quick energy-saving wins, such as adjusting boiler temperature and checking the user's energy tariffs, the visits also identify larger-scale home improvements such as wall and loft insulation, solar panels and new heating options to significantly reduce energy costs.
Following the assessments, the energy advisors discuss their findings with the householder, providing indicative costs of the work needed and calculations on the savings that would be made in fuel bills, energy use and carbon emissions.
The advisors also provide help, advice and guidance on grant funding and whether residents are eligible. If people qualify for financial assistance, the team can assist with the grant application process, and provide links to local installers and support households while the work takes place.
Rebekah Vickers, Greener Living Coordinator at Groundwork NE & Cumbria said: "We urge people to call us for a free home visit. We want to help as many people as possible avoid fuel poverty this winter and tackle the longer-term issue of poor energy efficiency in the North East housing stock. The energy advice we offer will reduce the risk of people having to choose between heating or eating this winter and could deliver long-term energy and cost savings."
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council, said: "Far too many people in Gateshead and across the North East have really struggled during the cost of living crisis, so any programme which can offer support like this is incredibly important.
"It is also important that Home Energy Advice North East has an impact on reducing energy usage and therefore carbon emissions, as we move towards our 2030 carbon neutral target."
Dame Norma Redfearn DBE, portfolio holder for housing and land at the North East Combined Authority and Elected Mayor of North Tyneside said: "People in this region have been hard hit by rising energy costs and the cost of living crisis, and we are committed to doing everything we can to help. This programme is a fantastic way of taking help directly into people's homes, helping them save money on energy bills and making homes more energy efficient which will also support the North East's efforts to tackle climate change.
"We want to encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of this support and find out how to cut costs and make their homes warmer this winter."
To request your free home visit or to find out more, visit the Energy Advice North East website (opens new window).
