Our region has some of the least energy-efficient homes in England. About a quarter of people say they can’t afford to heat their homes at all this winter. Fuel poverty is a major problem both in the North East and elsewhere in the UK.
In November the UK government unveiled a £6bn home insulation programme followed by proposals to offer grants of up to £15k to low-middle-income households to make homes more energy efficient. A national campaign advising people to save money on bills is to be launched this week. Although welcome, Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader has called for a ”national mission to insulate homes”.
Sustainable Warmth Scheme
In Newcastle residents are being advised to check if they are eligible to receive help under a new programme to help keep households warmer in their homes, lower their carbon emissions, and manage fuel bills this winter.
Under the Sustainable Warmth Scheme, delivered by Warmworks on behalf of Newcastle City Council, householders can apply to get improvements to increase comfort in their homes. The scheme provides a range of insulation measures, and renewable technologies like air source heat pumps and solar panels.
The Sustainable Warmth Scheme is open to homeowners and private tenants, where the property has a low annual income.
Warmworks will arrange a survey in the homes of eligible householders to agree what work will be carried out.. Then, an accredited local installation tam completes the work.
City residents can find out more here.
Nationally the Labour Party, backed by NGOs like National Energy Action, based on Tyneside, are calling for up to 19mn homes to be insulated. Labour believes its Warm Homes Plan would help cut bills while creating thousands of quality construction jobs.
Ed Miliband, shadow secretary for climate change said: ”Only Labour can deliver the fairer, green future Britain needs, thanks to our green prosperity plan to invest in green industries, and GB Energy, our publicly owned energy company making Britain a clean energy superpower.”
