Island homes to benefit from insulation scheme

31/07/2009

The Isle of Wight Council has joined forces with E.ON, one of the UK’s leading energy companies, to deliver a low-cost home insulation scheme across the Island.

The Island Insulation Scheme, which will be officially launched in the Autumn, will provide free or low-cost insulation to home owners and private tenants.

The scheme forms part of the Isle of Wight Council’s commitment to reducing the Island’s carbon footprint in line with the eco-island vision. It will provide private homeowners with the opportunity to receive subsidised loft and cavity wall insulation with prices starting from just £142 for cavity wall insulation including survey, materials and labour.  Households with occupants in receipt of benefits or aged over 70 will be eligible to receive free cavity and loft insulation through the scheme.

The benefits of installing home insulation could include reduced bills, warmer homes, reduced maintenance costs, improved energy performance rating for Home Energy Certificates and reduced carbon emissions.

A range of low-cost energy saving products will also be made available via the scheme through E.ON’s online webshop.

The council and E.ON will work with Heatseekers, a thermal imaging company to assess heat loss from homes across the Island on a street by street basis. They will to provide households with an individual report on the amount of energy they are losing and information about how to take advantage of the Island Insulation scheme.

Cllr Edward Giles, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport said: “The council is pleased to be linking with E.ON to offer low cost insulation to Island homes. Not only will this help to reduce the Island’s carbon footprint and assist in addressing fuel poverty, but it will also create work for local people.”

John Fawcitt, Energy Efficiency Manager at E.ON said: “We are delighted to be working with the Island to help promote energy efficiency.  There are clear benefits in installing basic energy efficiency measures, which can help people save up to £325 on the cost of heating their homes”

Details of how to apply for home insulation work will be announced at the scheme’s launch in September.

Notes for editors

Private tenants will need their landlord’s permission in order to apply for low-cost or free insulation.

The scheme will be available to private households (owner occupied or privately rented) only as improvements to the thermal efficiency of social housing are being carried out by Housing Associations under the Decent Home Standard.

Full details of who is eligible for the scheme will be announced when the scheme is launched in September.

Please contact Anna Price for further information:
[email protected] or 01983 823544