MP and local resident champion home energy saving scheme

Cheadle MP Mark Hunter has seen first hand how home energy improvements are helping to make life more comfortable for his constituents while reducing fuel costs.

Simply installing loft or cavity wall insulation and energy efficient heating systems can cut household fuel bills by around £300 - £600 a year, which is increasingly important when many households are struggling with high energy prices.

The Warm Front scheme, delivered by leading green support services company, Carillion Energy Services, is designed to combat these risks by providing grants of up to £3,500 to install a package of heating and insulation measures to help people vulnerable to fuel poverty keep warm and manage their fuel bills.

Mr Hunter learnt more about Warm Front's impact when he visited his constituent, Mrs Mary Papadopoulos who had recently benefited from the scheme. Mrs Papadopoulos had a new high efficiency 'A' rated combination boiler and heating controls installed, which have enabled her to monitor her usage.

Mr Hunter praised the improvements and was also interested to hear from Carillion how renewable technologies are increasingly becoming part of the energy mix.

He said: "Rising energy prices are a major worry for many people in my constituency and around the country. While these aren't going away, the most sustainable way to cope is by making our homes more energy efficient. Mrs Papadopoulos' new heating system has made an enormous difference to her level of comfort - and crucially has given her the added peace of mind that she can afford to keep her house warm all year round.

"In Autumn the Government is introducing the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation to help households finance the up-front costs of insulation, heating and other improvements. This is set to revolutionise the way everyone in the UK can improve their home - saving money and protecting the environment at the same time."

Gavin McAuley, from Carillion Energy Services, added: "We were delighted to show Mr Hunter the benefits of energy improvements, and also to talk about the increasingly important role other technologies can play. We look forward to the role that Green Deal will have in transforming the nation's housing stock whilst giving households and communities a real stake in reducing their carbon footprint and managing their own energy use."