Truro and Falmouth MP, Sarah Newton, today drew attention to the issue of energy efficiency of homes across Cornwall.
With the severe weather that was experienced across the country last winter, the summertime is the ideal opportunity for people to start thinking about how they can better insulate their homes or change their energy supplier for the best deal possible. Many energy saving measures can take time to plan and to install and as such it is far better to begin preparing now rather than leaving it too late when the cold weather sets in.
A recent report by the Citizens Advice Bureau Cornwall, The Costs of Keeping Warm, revealed that one in five households in Cornwall were spending more than 10 percent of their income on heating their homes and were therefore deemed to be in fuel poverty. A number of factors accounted for this such as rising energy costs, the high proportion of households using off-grid energy, low income levels and poorly insulated homes.
Sarah Newton MP said: “It is clear that we must all do what we can to reduce the costs of heating homes during periods of cold weather.
“There are a range of organisations that offer free and independent advice about how to save energy in your home and cut bills. I do understand how confusing all this information can be and people are not always sure of what funding schemes or benefits are available to them. For this reason, I have prepared a help sheet which explains what is available and also where people can find help and advice. Anyone who would like a copy should contact my office or visit my website www.sarahnewton.info.
Sarah continued: “People need to start thinking about how they can improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Not only will this save people money on their heating bills, but it will also help the environment by using less energy. During times of good weather, it is sensible to start preparing for the when the temperature will begin to drop and the nights draw in.”