Cllr Welcomes Warm Zone Scheme to Kirklees (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

Cllr Welcomes Warm Zone Scheme to Kirklees

September 11, 2006 11:15 AM

Cllr Roger Battye (Lib Dem, Dalton & Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing) has welcomed the Warm Zone scheme to Kirklees saying that it will help 100's of Huddersfield residents' access millions in unclaimed energy grants and benefits whilst reducing the cost of their heating bills (1/2).

The Warm Zone scheme will see the council working in partnership with Warm Zone Ltd (an external company) to assess the energy efficiency of every household in the district over the next 3 years (4). Warm Zone, who will conduct the assessments, will then provide a range of energy services to residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce the amount they have to pay for their heating.

These services will include:

(1) helping residents' access a complex range of government energy grants which are now available from local government or grant support;

(2) the installation of energy efficiency measures (thermal insulation, draught proofing, heating) in residents' home;

(3) Providing advice on benefits entitlement to reduce the amount residents have to spend on energy and maximise households' income.

Cllr Roger Battye (Lib Dem, Dalton Ward) said: "Warm Zone has helped to improve energy efficiency in nearly 500,000 homes in the UK since 2000 and I am extremely pleased that residents in Huddersfield and across Kirklees will now benefit".

Cllr Roger Battye then said: "Energy prices just keep on going up and up. Since 2003, your average gas bill has increased by 81% and electricity by 53% (Energy Watch Data). That's about £398 more a year local people have to find to keep their homes heated which is a lot for those on a pension or with a limited income."

Cllr Roger Battye then said: "On average, Warm Zones figures suggest that some households could be missing out on as much to £1,525 in benefits each year, adding up to 19m over three years! This is a lot of money for people to be missing out on, especially when you realise that some of these people, who are amongst the most vulnerable, will be considering turning down the thermostat to save money on their bills this winter."

Cllr Roger Battye then said: "In this day and age, the idea that people are consciously choosing to suffer because they do not think they cannot afford to heat their homes properly appals me especially when there is actually money out there to help them. The Warm Zone scheme will make sure that people are getting the financial support they need whilst making homes more energy efficient, which will further reduce the amount people have to pay and keep them warm.

Cllr Roger Battye went on to say: "Warm Zone has also predicted that the scheme could help to inject an additional £200,000 each year into the Kirklees economy as people save on heating and are free to spend it elsewhere, which is another excellent benefit".

Cllr Roger Battye concluded: "In addition to all the financial benefits, the environment will also get its share of help from the scheme. The less energy people are using to heat their homes, the less greenhouse gases are be released into the atmosphere. This will help Kirklees meet its 30% reductions target by 2020. Reducing our day to day impact on the environment must be a key priority for us all, now and in the coming decades."