Free energy help for Oldham residents

Published by Lucy Bradwell for The Regenda Group in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment

Hundreds of Oldham people received free energy advice and equipment as part of a special project to tackle fuel poverty in the area.

More than 400 Regenda Group residents living in the Limehurst and Glodwick areas received a visit from trained Energy Advisors as part of the project, carried out in partnership with Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale.

As well as receiving energy-saving measures such as draught excluders and radiator foils, they were given simple energy efficiency tips to help them control their fuel use, and advice on grants that could help them even further.

Joan Frost, who lives in Higher Lime Road, was one of the Regenda residents who received a visit from Groundwork. Joan received advice on energy use, and as a result had her thermostat moved to a more effective location in her home. She also had radiator foils fitted to improve their performance, draught excluders, and special devices to ‘power down’ electrical appliances. She will also be contacted with regard to a grant for an energy-effeicient flue.

Joan said: “It was very interesting listening to the ways you can improve your energy efficiency, and in particular I did notice that the radiator foils made the rooms they were in much warmer, much quicker.”

The project was carried out by Regenda, Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale, and Great Places Housing Group, using a £32,000 grant from LEAF (Local Environmental Action Fund).

Volunteers visited people in their homes to give out the advice, with 91% of the residents concerned saying the energy saving tips were easy to understand and to act on. Follow up visits will be made in future months to monitor the effect on their fuel bills.

Sarah Thomas, Environmental Officer at Regenda, said: “This project was aimed at increasing the fuel efficiency of our residents’ homes, which will hopefully help them to reduce their bills and feel more confident in their energy use. We are especially pleased that the vast majority of people we visited found the tips easy to understand, and also that five out of the ten volunteers who took part have since gone on to find full time employment.”