Date: 26/04/2010
A Buxton couple could be up to £800 better off this year, thanks to a brand new home energy efficiency scheme.
Retired Raymond and Brenda Hobdey, of Granby Road, Fairfield signed up for free cavity wall and loft insulation as part of a "Warmstreets" package promoted by High Peak Borough Council.
What is more, expert advice on fuel switching will enable them to save money by changing their energy supplier.
The insulation can be free to all private householders and tenants aged 70 and over, and to people receiving certain benefits. For households that do not qualify for free insulation, heavy subsidies mean that cavity wall insulation costs just £149 while loft insulation costs between £99 and £199, depending on the amount needed.
Insulation contractors are brought in by Apex Carbon Solutions, which also advises householders on how much money they might save from fuel switching. The "Warmstreets" scheme was set up in partnership with Apex Carbon Solutions, which uses national insulation contractors and its own surveyors, specially trained and vetted, to perform surveys and advise householders on fuel saving and supplier switching.
Like many others, the Hobdeys were sceptical about the scheme at first. But they quickly appreciated the benefits when talking to the "Warmstreets" surveyor who called following the council's letter of introduction.
Mr Hobdey, aged 73, who manages trolleys in and around the car park at Morrisons, said he and his wife were "delighted" by how much warmer their home felt and by the prospect of their energy costing them a lot less in the future.
He added that the work was carried out very quickly, and Brenda said how surprised she was when the fitters actually cleaned up after themselves.
"The council's letter of introduction and management of the scheme meant we were confident from the start that it was all above board and that the contractors were reputable", said 72-year-old Brenda.
Launched in February, "Warmstreets" has been concentrating so far on Buxton, where 118 properties had already benefited from improved insulation as at Tuesday 20 April.
With Glossop now included as well and with the rest of the borough to follow, the council is confident of improving energy efficiency for around 1,000 homes a year.
The scheme is subsidised by the national energy companies, all of which are required by law to invest some of their profits in the promotion of home energy efficiency. The energy suppliers pay Apex Carbon Solutions a fee for each property recommended for efficiency improvements.
Said borough council environmental policy officer Bill Purvis: "Warmstreets is a brilliant scheme. Not only does improved energy efficiency benefit health by making people's homes warmer, it also pays for itself inside two years - even for those households paying the higher costs under the scheme.
"It's also great news for the taxpayer generally, as Warmstreets doesn't cost the council a penny apart from officer time spent promoting the project", he stressed.