Making your home energy efficient is kind to the environment, but can also help cut your utility bills.
Bolton Council wants to help residents to improve efficiency in the homes. Read on to find information on energy efficiency loans and advice on the support available to residents as well as tips to reduce your bills.
Get Me Toasty
Green Loans
Warm Front
Affordable Warmth Referrals
Better Behaving Boiler
Healthy Heating
Own your own home? Want free loft and cavity wall insulation?
All private residents in Bolton are being offered free loft and cavity wall insulation, regardless of age or income, to help them save money and keep warm (subject to a free home survey and availability).
Get Me Toasty is a campaign run by the Energy Saving Trust and GM local authorities, including Bolton Council.
The scheme now offers insulation for free to all private residents, and could help residents save hundreds of pounds on their fuel bills.
For more information or to register for the Get Me Toasty scheme go to www.getmetoasty.com or call Energy Saving Trust for free on 0800 512 012.
Green Loans
The Green Loan initiative is being run by Bolton Council and Hoot Bolton Credit Union.
Residents can get a green loan for energy efficiency improvements and appliances for their homes.
The loan is interest free, provided that all the loan repayments are paid on time, and proof is provided that the loan has been spent for energy efficiency measures. Those who own or rent their home can apply.
Call 01204 365024 to check if you qualify for a Green Loan or visit www.wisewithmoney.org.uk/
Warm Front
The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation improvements to households on certain income-related benefits living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system.
Qualifying households can get improvements worth up to £3,500 (£6,000 where oil central heating and other alternative technologies are recommended).
You can apply online for a Warm Front Grant or call 0800 316 2805.
Affordable Warmth Referrals
Do you work with vulnerable people who may need advice about keeping warm, heating/insulation grants, reducing fuel bills, home repairs, fire safety or money and benefits?
If so please contact Bolton Care and Repair, Affordable Warmth (case management):
Telephone: 01204 335679
Fax: 01204 335859
Email: boltoncareandrepair@boltonathome.org.uk
The referral system works well:
‘We’ve had a customer in the office this morning enquiring about loft insulation. After discussing various things with her, we’ve identified a referral to care and repair for gutters; fire service for smoke alarms; Hoot for a green loan for broken appliances and a possible health boiler grant!’ Dawn Hulme, Building Surveyor.
For general free advice on saving energy, heating/insulation, for non vulnerable customers, we still recommend directing customers to the Energy Saving Trust, and their free advice telephone number: 0800 512 012.
Better Behaving Boiler
The Better Behaving Boiler Scheme is a central heating grant for owner occupiers who are on a low income and do not have a working central heating system. Private tenants can access this grant only where they have responsibility for the heating system as set out in their tenancy agreement.
A grant of £800 is available to private households who are on particular benefits but are not eligible for a standard Warm Front grant.
Clients can access other grants in addition if they meet their criteria e.g. Warm Front rebate scheme.
For more information, please contact Bolton Care and Repair on 01204 335679.
Healthy Heating
The Healthy Heating grant is for people with ill health who have no workable central heating system
A heating grant of £800 is available to people who receive a disability benefit, have no workable central heating system and are referred to Care and Repair by a health professional.
For more information, please contact Bolton Care and Repair on 01204 335679.