Solihull Council alongside Act on Energy and the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will be delivering their next series of free home energy advice events across the borough in November.
With the significant increase in energy bills over the past few years, having a well-insulated home is more important than ever. The drop-in events will help residents understand how to improve the energy efficiency of their home and learn about any free or subsidised measures they may be eligible for. Examples of improvements include external wall insulation, loft and cavity insulation, solar panels, heat pumps and double glazing.
At the events residents can learn more about the Great British Insulation Scheme, which is designed to help eligible applicants insulate their homes and save money on their energy bills. The scheme will run until March 2026. Residents can find out whether they be may eligible here.
The events may also be of particular interest to those residents who are potentially eligible for the Home Upgrade Grant Scheme. This scheme, funded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), targets the least energy efficient homes which do not use a gas boiler as their main heating system.
The free drop-in events will take place throughout November in different areas of the borough. The dates, times and locations are as follows:
Tuesday 7 November, 10.30am – 12.30pm, The Pavilion, Meriden Sports Park (CV7 7SP)
Wednesday 8 November, 10 – 11.30am, Chadwick End Village Hall (B93 0BL)
Thursday 9 November, 2 - 4pm, St Peter’s Church, Balsall Common (CV7 7EA)
Wednesday 15 November, 11.30am – 2pm, St Margaret's Church, Olton (B92 7JS)
Monday 20 November, 12 – 1.30pm, Auckland Hall, Smiths Wood, (B36 9JR)
Thursday 23 November, 9.30 – 11.30am Arden Hall, Castle Bromwich (B36 9PB)
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change & Planning, said:
“It’s well known that many UK homes struggle to retain heat as efficiently as homes in Europe. The scale of the task is vast – the UK Green Building Council estimates that 1.8 homes per minute will need to be retrofitted to deliver the UK government’s commitment to net zero by 2050.
“With the energy price cap slightly falling in October, you may be considering whether it’s worth fixing your energy tariff, or you might be wondering what grants are currently available to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency. Whatever your circumstance it’s worth popping down to one of the events to have an informal conversation with the knowledgeable team.”
Residents can find out useful information about improving their home’s energy performance on the Your Future Solihull website. If you’d like to keep up to date with all the climate change and sustainability news from the Council, sign up to the Your Future Solihull newsletter.