A Sevenoaks couple will be making some electrifying savings in the coming months after an energy saving initiative reached a grand milestone recently.
The Prestons of Chipstead in Sevenoaks became the 1,000th household in Kent to take advantage of free Home Energy Survey when they were visited by a Kent Energy Centre (KEC) Home Visitor on 20 August.
The Prestons were given advice on low energy lighting and draught proofing, as well as more general tips on how they could save energy in their home as the Home Energy Survey was completed. The Home Visitor was also able to refer them for free cavity wall insulation as Mr Preston is aged over 70.
The completed home energy survey will also provide the Prestons with a
tailored energy report for their property with suggestions on how they
could save around £270 a year.
In response to being asked about the effectiveness of the visit, Mr
Preston said: “It was a most useful meeting and in particular it
brought home how several apparently minor energy saving activities can
have a relatively large cumulative effect. All in all it was a
constructive and helpful session."
However, he added: “We were rather surprised that additional loft
insulation was not recommended in our 1976 built house, and that cavity
wall insulation was seen as a greater priority.”
Mr Morris, the manager of the scheme at the Kent Energy Centre said in
response: “We often encounter lofts with around four to six inches of
existing insulation. Whilst this is below the 10.5 inches currently
required by building regulations, it is generally the first four inches
or so that provide the most benefit.”
“In the Prestons' case, insulating the cavity wall will have far
greater energy saving benefits, compared to topping-up the existing
loft insulation, and this is why it was recommended as the priority.”
The visit was made as part of an initiative run by Kent Energy Centre in partnership with Sevenoaks District Council.
Over 3,000 homes in the District were written to in July inviting them
to book a visit from the KEC Home Visitor to obtain free energy saving
advice. Whilst the service was deliberately targeted at older and more
vulnerable residents and those on low incomes, as it is these groups
that are most likely to be eligible for energy efficiency grants, a
range of households in the selected areas were also invited to take
part.
Since the 8 August, the Home Visitors from the Kent Energy Centre have
been visiting various homes in the District offering advice on a range
of matters from simple no and low-cost activities, such as checking to
ensure that heating controls are being used correctly, to referrals for
energy saving measures such as loft and cavity-wall insulation and
central heating improvements.
The Home Visitors have also been providing a range of complementary
services, such as organising fire safety and benefit entitlement checks
during their time in the District.
Cllr Carol Clark, the Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for
housing, says: “Hopefully we will have a few more weeks of sun to come,
but with autumn on its way and energy costs rising, this initiative has
been providing useful free advice for residents on how they can make
their homes more energy efficient and save money on their fuel bills. I
am delighted that we have been able work with the Kent Energy Centre to
offer this service to our residents."
Whilst the project in Sevenoaks is coming to a close residents can
still receive free and impartial energy advice over the phone,
including referrals to schemes and grants, by calling the Kent Energy
Centre on 0800 358 6669.
The initiative was originally funded by Defra and has been maintained
via support from Sevenoaks District Council along with Kent’s other
local authorities.
The Kent Energy Centre is a local not for profit organisation offering
free and impartial energy efficiency advice to residents across the
county.
Further information can be found on the Energy Conservation section of
the Council website - www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/energy, or by phoning the
Kent Energy Centre on 0800 358 6669
