Free energy checks for York residents (From York Press)

Free energy checks for York residents

8:20am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News

VULNERABLE residents in York and those on low incomes are being offered free home energy checks.

City of York Council’s successful bid for support from the Warm Homes Healthy People fund has enabled initiatives including advice about measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation and assessing how people can be given help to keep warm.

The Home Energy Audit scheme, carried out in conjunction with Age UK York and Yorkshire Energy Partnership, can also point residents towards grants for new boilers and loans for repairs, while emergency heaters can be loaned out and “warm packs” given to people whose heating systems fail. The packs include vacuum flasks, torches, fleece blankets, hats and gloves.

Age UK also offers an emergency service for collecting shopping and prescriptions, with Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, cabinet member for health, housing and adult social services, saying: “There are many residents in York who can benefit from this scheme, which plays a vital role in keeping people safe and warm in their homes, reducing fuel poverty and ill-health.”

Applicants can live in private or rented accommodation but the household must have somebody who receives a state pension, is disabled or has children aged under five living in cold, damp homes.

For more information, phone Denise Hall at Yorkshire Energy Partnership on 01904 545020 or email Denise.Hall@energypartnership.org.uk.

Elderly residents can phone Age UK York on 01904 634061.