Monday, May 08, 2006
Save money and help the environment
Residents keen to save money on their Council Tax and annual heating bills while helping the environment can benefit from a new initiative backed by St Edmundsbury.
The scheme, run by British Gas in partnership with the council, will see anyone who takes up an offer of discounted cavity wall insulation handed a £50 Council Tax credit once work is complete. Insulation can also be provided free of charge to people on qualifying benefits.
The credits and discounts are funded entirely by British Gas at no cost to the council. Residents do not have to be British Gas customers, or heating their homes with gas, to take part.
To qualify for the credit, owner-occupier households must have subsidised cavity wall insulation installed by British Gas in their home. Research has shown around 30% of heat produced in the home is lost through its walls. Although the householder has to invest a minimum of £175* to get the insulation installed (discounted from £430), average annual savings on energy bills are around £110**.
Coupled with the credit of £50, householders could see their investment paid back within eighteen months, with savings on their energy bills continuing after that.
Residents keen to save money on their Council Tax and annual heating bills while helping the environment can benefit from a new initiative backed by St Edmundsbury.
The scheme, run by British Gas in partnership with the council, will see anyone who takes up an offer of discounted cavity wall insulation handed a £50 Council Tax credit once work is complete. Insulation can also be provided free of charge to people on qualifying benefits.
The credits and discounts are funded entirely by British Gas at no cost to the council. Residents do not have to be British Gas customers, or heating their homes with gas, to take part.
To qualify for the credit, owner-occupier households must have subsidised cavity wall insulation installed by British Gas in their home. Research has shown around 30% of heat produced in the home is lost through its walls. Although the householder has to invest a minimum of £175* to get the insulation installed (discounted from £430), average annual savings on energy bills are around £110**.
Coupled with the credit of £50, householders could see their investment paid back within eighteen months, with savings on their energy bills continuing after that.
