Households urged to claim free help from Britain’s energy companies
The summer may not be over yet, but the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) is urging the elderly and low income families across the country to claim free help to insulate their homes now instead of waiting until the winter months.
These households could save up to £265 – enough money to indulge some of their wildest summer spending fantasies and purchase:
- 159 buckets and spades; or
- 44 pairs of sunglasses; or
- 828 ice lollies; or
- 338 litres of vanilla ice cream; or
- 51 BBQs; or
- 6 flights to Majorca; or
- 8 litres of sun lotion; or
- 21 snorkel sets; or
- 53 kilograms of strawberries; or
- 964 litres of lemonade; or
- 73 litres of gin and tonic; or
- 117 inflatable beach balls
According to Home Heat Helpline research(1), as many as 3.6 million households could benefit from free home insulation paid for by their energy companies. The Home Heat Helpline is urging households to call today, when demand for insulation is at its lowest.
Calls to Home Heat Helpline peak during January, when they are 18 times higher than during the summer. Households that delay calling the Home Heat Helpline until January could miss out on a whole winter’s savings worth up to £265 a year.
The Home Heat Helpline is a free service set up to provide advice on keeping warm and access to grants for free home insulation other help with energy bills.
Christine McGourty, Home Heat Helpline spokesperson says: “Each year it only takes a few days of sun before the UK becomes transfixed by barbeques, sunbathing and ice cream. What people don’t realise is that they’re a few simple energy efficiency steps away from saving enough cash to embark on a major summer splurge next time the sunshine hits our shores.
“Millions of people, including pensioners and those on benefits, can get their homes insulated without having to pay a penny by calling Home Heat Helpline today on 0800 33 66 99. Act now instead of waiting until winter and you could save £265.”
Research by YouGov, commissioned by Home Heat Helpline shows that fewer than one in ten adults (8 per cent) have thought about purchasing some form of insulation this summer, despite almost one in three (32 per cent) admitting they are concerned about how cold the forthcoming winter will be.
The research reveals that nearly 1 in 3 adults (29 per cent) have lived without the benefit of loft insulation for more than ten years. These people are missing out on hundreds of pounds of energy savings each year.
Older people, families on low incomes and people with disabilities may be eligible for assistance and grants, and the Home Heat Helpline urges them to find out more by calling 0800 33 66 99 or visiting www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact Daisy Swan or Tom Kirkham at Blue Rubicon on 0207 260 2700 or email HHH@bluerubicon.com
Energy Savings Trust figures show that a typical home can save up to £265 a year on energy bills by installing loft and cavity wall insulation to prevent energy loss during the winter months.
(1)Home Heat Helpline ‘Missing Millions’ research:
The ‘Missing Millions’ research, undertaken by New Policy Institute (NPI), pinpoints where the Missing Millions are located up and down the country, enabling the Home Heat Helpline to see precisely which communities are most likely to gain from the assistance on offer.
The New Policy Institute (NPI) was commissioned by the Home Heat Helpline to estimate the number of vulnerable households who could benefit from free CERT home insulation grants.
A full copy of the NPI report is available on request.
YouGov research: Key findings from the Home Heat Helpline/YouGov Heating survey July 2010 include:
– 29 per cent of adults living without loft insulation have done so for more than ten years,
– 4 per cent have been thinking about purchasing loft insulation in the last three months
– 2 per cent have been thinking about purchasing cavity wall insulation in the last three months
– 2 per cent have been thinking about purchasing window/door insulation in the last three months
Contact the media team
For press enquiries:
Abi Gibson, Senior Press Officer 020 7104 4162 abigail.gibson@energy-uk.org.uk
For campaign enquiries:
Louis Blake, Campaign Officer
020 7104 4166 louis.blake@energy-uk.org.uk
