FUEL-poor homeowners in Halton have a chance to apply for a fully-funded replacement for their broken boiler.
Its is part of a partnership scheme by Halton Borough Council and the 'Be Warm' initiative.
To be eligible, residents must be the homeowner and meet certain income or benefits-related criteria.
The existing boiler must be broken (including intermittent problems), subject to a survey by the project team
Delivered by Liberty Group and ECO funding provided by ScottishPower, the scheme aims to support residents to heat their homes to a level best for health and comfort at an affordable cost. New boilers are more energy efficient, so they help reduce fuel bills, heat homes more effectively and reduce CO2¬ emissions that harm the environment.
Keeping your home at the right temperature can have many positive effects on health, particularly for those with pre-existing health conditions, the very old and the very young. Indoor temperatures should be 21°C in the day, at least 18°C at night in bedrooms for adults and older children, and between 16 and 20°C in babies’ rooms.
In Halton, the scheme is supported by Council partner Cheshire Green Doctor, who provide a free home energy assessment and energy saving advice.
Their Energy Efficiency Advisors are trained to offer advice on saving energy in the home and choosing the best energy tariff for you.
They can also support clients to access additional funds and grants, for example to manage fuel debt, and can offer simple energy saving measures such as LED bulbs.
Cllr Marie Wright, Halton Borough Council's portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: "This scheme is a real opportunity to reduce the number of people in Halton living in cold homes.
"We welcome the Be Warm scheme as one tool in the efforts of many partners and agencies in Halton to protect our residents from the harms of cold homes, reducing inequalities."
More details of the breadth of advice and support towards achieving affordable warmth available in Halton can be found at https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/health/hit/campaigns/winterwarmth.pdf
The Be Warm scheme is only funded until the end of March and funds are limited. Therefore, apply as soon as possible to ensure you don't miss out.
To check if you are eligible and to find out more, call Halton Direct Link on 0303 333 4300.
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