Local Council Offers Free Insulation Scheme

Kirklees council in Yorkshire recently offered its residents free cavity-wall and loft insulation, as well as providing a free carbon monoxide detector and energy saving light bulbs.

This scheme, offered to all residents, was extremely popular, and was hailed as a great example to other authorities across the UK. It also helped to cut annual carbon emissions by 28,000 tonnes.

The initiative, known as Warm Zone, was first developed in 2007, and since then insulation work has been done in 32,000 homes. The average reduction in their fuel bills has been an annual £200, and over 100 jobs were created as a result.

Local residents have been extremely impressed by the scheme, which aims to help people make their homes warmer. Retired teacher, Pauline Pedley, said the work was done quickly and efficiently and, with the combination of insulation and double glazing, she rarely even turns the heating on.

Warm Zone has enjoyed support from many parties, and has £11 million worth of funding coming from Scottish Power, to help reduce carbon emissions.

Spokespeople for the council have said that Kirklees is very proud to have set a standard for schemes that could help to reduce carbon emissions nationwide.

Over 100,000 have signed up to the scheme, which is still running. The council see no reason why other councils across the country can’t follow suit, and effectively reduce carbon emissions as well as help to cut poverty in local communities.