Householders have spoken of the impact that a scheme has had to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of homes across North Yorkshire while also helping them to cope with the cost of living crisis.
The Government’s Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is available to homes to help properties worst affected by problems such as poor-quality insulation.
The money will finance the introduction of a wide range of improvements from insulation and solar panels to air source heat pumps and high-heat retention electric storage heaters.
The scheme is also being introduced to help counter the cost of living crisis by providing residents with the opportunity to save money from their energy bills.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for climate change, Cllr Greg White, said: “We know just how important improving the energy efficiency of homes is for protecting both the environment and people’s finances.
“It is great to see that communities across North Yorkshire are beginning to see real benefits from the project, which is another example of how we are helping to address climate change.
“I would urge anyone who is eligible to get in touch to ensure that they too can reduce the impact on the environment while getting significant savings on their energy bills.”
Householders who have been signed up to the scheme have saved up to £610 on their bills as the upgrades have helped to ensure their properties are more energy efficient.
A total of £6 million has been allocated for the current phase to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the county, and the scheme is now in its second and final phase which is running throughout the current financial year. So far, a total of 362 homes in North Yorkshire have benefited from the project.
Among those who have signed up is Geoffrey Evans who has had solar panels and loft insulation installed at his home in the Northallerton area. Mr Evans, aged 90, said: “As you get older you really start to feel the cold, so when I first read about your scheme in the local newspaper, I really jumped at the opportunity to keep my home warm.
“I was thrilled to hear my application was successful and I qualified. The loft insulation really appealed to me, since installation I have noticed a big difference with the heat retention. The team even put in extra fans to prevent condensation.
“I was also thrilled with the solar panels – I am receiving £2 a day just by selling back my extra energy.
“In large, I think I’m going to get my electricity for nothing, I can’t wait to maximise the effect of the solar panels. The savings encouraged me to get an energy reading app on my phone.”
Carbon dioxide emissions from homes in North Yorkshire ranks as the second highest after transport, and a concerted drive has been launched to bring in a raft of improvements in the county’s housing stock.
There are particular issues in rural parts of North Yorkshire where homes often date back several centuries and remain energy inefficient.
The vast geographical spread of England’s largest county means that to co-ordinate a programme of energy efficiency upgrades to homes through sparsely populated countryside communities is both costly and difficult to co-ordinate.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for housing, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “We know that the county faces specific challenges to ensure that households can become as energy efficient as possible.
“The Home Upgrade Grant scheme is proving invaluable for helping upgrade properties that have long suffered from poor energy efficiency.”
Jennifer Taylor has also benefited from having solar panels installed at her home in Thirsk through the scheme.
She has been living at the property for seven years and had been unable to make any significant changes due to its structure.
She said: “I first heard about the scheme through a letter in the post, it had the council’s logo on, so I was assured it was real. The team I talked to over the phone was very nice, I was happy with all of them.
“That includes the installers, they were very polite and kept everything clean. I was expecting them to have issues putting the scaffolding up, but they worked around the issues very well. Since installation, I have started noticing a difference in my energy usage and I’m sure I will see some good savings.
“I’m also very happy with the way it looks, the solar panels have encouraged me to look into getting a smart meter.
“Overall, my house has always been very energy inefficient so this will be a big help.”
The HUG scheme is being delivered by North Yorkshire Council in partnership with YES Energy Solutions, a Yorkshire community interest company aiming to alleviate fuel poverty and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
To qualify for funding, homes must be off mains gas and have a gross household income of £36,000 or below, or someone living at the property has to receive a means-tested benefit.
However, some households may still qualify outside of these criteria, depending on their location in the county.
More information about the HUG scheme is available at www.northyorks.gov.uk/hug2 on North Yorkshire Council’s website.