If your home is un-insulated, you could be losing as much as 75 per cent of the heat you pay for through walls, ceilings and draughts.

That’s according to figures from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), who suggest that un-insulated homes can lose up to 35 per cent of heat through walls, 25 per cent through roofs and a further 15 per cent through draughts.

Yet for the vast majority of properties, measures to reduce these losses are easily available and often free to install – and across Somerset, more people than ever before can now benefit from free and discounted loft and cavity wall insulation.

Warm Streets is a major insulation project set up by the local authorities in Somerset* along with Scottish and Southern Energy and CSE. This year the scheme has already helped install over 750 measures across Somerset – helping to reduce fuel bills and ensure their homes will be warm this winter.

Changes to the scheme mean that more and more households are now eligible for grants to cover insulation as well as a package of additional energy saving measures.

From November, all private households in Sedgemoor, West Somerset, Taunton Deane, South Somerset and Mendip – including privately rented properties – will qualify for free loft and cavity wall insulation, if residents:

·         are over the age of 60

·         OR have children under 16 years

·         OR are in receipt of certain benefits

·         OR have an annual combined income of less than £20,000 and savings of less than £20,000

The project also offers benefit checks for householders who wish to check that they are claiming their full entitlement.

Danielle Barrett, a Community Energy Advisor for CSE, said: “With temperatures plummeting and the wintry conditions showing no signs of letting up, there’s no doubting the need for additional layers and thicker clothing when braving the cold. Funny then, that we don’t always consider the same for our homes.

“Insulation is the most effective way of cutting our fuel bills and can save some people hundreds of pounds over the course of a year. Even if you do have insulation already, many people are not aware that they may need a top-up.”

To be referred to Warm Streets, or for further information on this and other grant schemes available in your area, please contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on: 0800 512 012.

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