22 May 2008Otford residents will be the first to benefit from energy conservation advice when the ‘Sevenoaks Rural Energy Focus’ project is launched at the Otford Society annual general meeting on Thursday 6 April.
Sevenoaks District Council recently scooped £67,000 from the Government to help improve energy efficiency in a number of the District’s rural areas.
Beginning in Otford, the Council will use the money to fund the two-year long ‘Sevenoaks Rural Energy Focus’ project that aims to inform local people about how energy efficiency can benefit their pocket and the environment and to raise the profile of energy saving grants and discount schemes.
As part of the project, Otford will host a series of energy conservation related events during April and surveyors from the Kent Energy Centre will be in the village to advise residents on energy saving measures that will contribute to smaller energy bills.
The project came about after a Council led survey of 1,300 homes from across the Sevenoaks District in 2004. The survey found that rural homes were the least energy efficient of the entire District’s housing stock.
Broadly speaking, many rural houses were found to have old, inefficient heating systems. In addition, most rural homes were built prior to the 1930s and cannot be easily insulated. Updating their inefficient heating systems is the best way to improve the energy efficiency of these properties.
Over the next two years, the Council will work with a number of local parish councils, schools and community groups to raise awareness of the issues in their communities and the help available.
Cllr Carol Clark, Cabinet member with responsibility for housing improvements, says: "Making our homes more energy efficient is good news for everyone. By using less energy, we use less fossil fuels that add to the problem of global warming. They also save money and, in a relatively short period, most energy saving improvements pay for themselves."
Discounted loft and wall insulation and other home energy saving products, such as energy efficient boilers and solar heating, are available to all Sevenoaks District residents. For details call the Kent Energy Centre on 0800 358 6669 for a free, no obligation quote.
Local people and community groups who wish to know more about the ‘Sevenoaks Rural Energy Focus’ project or who would like the Council's Energy Conservation officer give an energy efficiency talk can call 01732 227000 and ask for Louise Shrubsole or e-mail energy.conservation@sevenoaks.gov.uk
