Having an energy efficient home is one of those win-win-win scenarios: great for your finances, great for your health and also great for the planet.
The nationwide Better Housing Better Health programme has been developed to help keep residents warm and well at home and improve the energy efficiency of our homes. Schemes run across Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Eligible households can request a visit from an advisor (called ‘energy doctors’ in Buckinghamshire) who then advises on ways to reduce energy consumption and costs, and put in place suitable low-cost easily retrofitted efficiency measures. These measures include things like draught-proofing for windows, doors, letterboxes and chimneys; hot water cylinder jackets; portable solar generators; reflective radiator panels; secondary glazing film; LED lights and electricity consumption monitors.
Feedback from a Long Crendon resident (in rented accommodation) who had a visit from an Energy Doctor was really positive: “We got some really good advice, as well as some new LED light bulbs for the lights we hadn’t already switched, an extra draft excluder on the back door, a solar panel and power pack, plus a heated throw. We would definitely recommend that others in Bucks check their eligibility and take advantage of the scheme if they can.”
Precise criteria may slightly vary between counties, but in Bucks to qualify for a free visit you must either rent the property through a private rental agreement or own and live in the property (ie you can’t be a landlord) PLUS you must live in a domestic property with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G (or if the property doesn’t legally require an EPC). In addition, you must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
- you’re the only occupier of the property with an income of £36,000 or less before tax
- there are 2 or more occupiers with a household income of £41,000 or less before tax
- you’re a household with dependent children and a household income of £50,000 or less before tax
- you are in receipt of means tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Council Tax Support
- a member of your household is disabled.
To request a visit, or find out more information, whether you live in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire, contact the Better Housing Better Health team, either by telephone on 0800 107 0044 or email bhbh@nef.org.uk