A Leicestershire resident has spoken about the difference energy efficiency upgrades have made to his home.
The Home Upgrade Grant scheme is delivered by Leicestershire County Council's Warm Homes service and supports eligible homeowners or private renters to help reduce their energy bills, carbon emissions and keep homes warmer for longer.
Residents have limited time left to apply for this current round of funding with the scheme set to close to applications on the 1st November.
Charnwood resident Edward Dakin received external wall insulation, a bathroom extractor fan and window trickle vents via a previous round of funding.
Edward was very concerned about how much he was spending on energy bills and had to go to extreme measures to reduce the cost of putting his heating on. He said: “High energy costs were a big concern for me. I was always scared of putting the heating on and spent a lot of time in the dark.
“Although I am still reluctant to put the heating on, I do now feel that when I do use the heating the warmth stays longer after turning it off. I encourage others to apply as it’s definitely worth it.”
The government-funded scheme supports households that do not have mains gas as a primary heating system such as those with electric, heating oil, LPG or solid fuel heating. Households that only use gas for cooking or secondary room heating can still apply.
“It’s great to hear Edward’s story and we know this is making a difference across the county. We want more people to make use of the scheme to help reduce their energy costs.
“As we approach winter, many people will be looking at how they can keep their homes warm whilst keeping their bills low.
“With energy prices set to go up in October, low-income households and residents who have been living in inefficient homes will be prioritised under this scheme, so I’d urge anyone interested to check if they’re eligible.
Person:Councillor Louise Richardson, cabinet member for health
For more information including the full eligibility criteria, visit the Home Upgrade Grant page, or call project delivery partner YES Energy Solutions on 0330 912 6199, who will support residents with telephone applications.