Energy Efficiency
Click here for the latest useful information from the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (PDF 70KB)
Energy is vital for day to day life, be that in your home or for anyone in a work role.
First Choice Homes Oldham is working to improve the energy efficiency of all its housing and help reduce costs to both tenants and to the Company. Reducing energy use not only reduces costs financially but also reduces the cost to the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions (one of the main contributors to climate change).
Working with local partners and tenants will enable First Choice Homes Oldham and Oldham Council to make a considerable contribution to national targets:
- Reduce and eventually eliminate fuel poverty
- Reduce carbon dioxide emissions
- Improve energy performance of domestic and public buildings
- Increase awareness of energy efficiency
Energy Efficiency
First Choice Homes Oldham are installing a number of energy efficiency measures in homes wherever possible:-
- UPVC Double glazed windows and doors
- Cavity Wall insulation
- External thermally insulated cladding
- 270 mm loft insulation
- High efficiency condensing boilers
- High specification heating controls
- Hot water cylinder insulation
- Low energy lighting
There are a number of no-cost and low-cost measures that can be undertaken in your own home to increase energy efficiency and reduce your energy bills.
Top Tips to reduce your Energy Costs
As energy prices continue to rise at an ever-increasing rate, being energy efficient is becoming more important to everyone. Over the last 12 months, standard electricity prices have risen by around 10%, producing an average increase of £29. Over the same period standard gas prices have risen by 14%, an average increase of £51.*
By following some very simple tips you could find yourself beating the energy price increases.
You can also obtain free energy advice from the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. Call free on 0800 512012, quoting OL1. Tips can also be found in First Choice for News.
*www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_prices
Insulation
Did you know that around 30% of energy wasted is from homes, more than that attributed to transport!
The energy escaping from your home can be roughly split as follows:
That is why First Choice Homes Oldham is installing insulation to as many homes as possible.
- 5,248 cavity walls insulated.
- 969 non-traditional construction walls externally insulated.
- 2,361 lofts insulated over 200mm.
- 10,028 properties improved with double glazed wiindows and doors.
We hope to have the remaining cavity walls insulated and loft insulation increased by 2008.
Did you know?
Lighting accounts for 10-15% of the average household electricity bill (source EST).
Using just one energy saving light bulb could save you £5 a year, and if every household installed one, we could power the lighting currently used in 2 millions homes for a year (source DETR).
If every household changed just two of the four most regularly used bulbs for energy efficient ones (CFL's) the energy saved would be enough to power all the street lighting in the UK (source ETSU).
We have a limited supply of low energy lightbulbs for First Choice Homes Oldham tenants. Please call in to Chadderton Town Hall Housing Office, leave your name and address and collect your 2 free low energy lightbulb (whilst stocks last).
Chadderton Town Hall is located on Middleton Road, Chadderton. Opening Hours are 9.00am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday: 10.00am - 4.30pm Wednesday.
Click here to view a location map for Chadderton Town Hall
Affordable Warmth
First Choice Homes Oldham are committed to providing homes which are affordable for everyone to heat. We are a major partner with Oldham Council, Oldham Primary Care Trust, other housing organisations, charitable groupsand energy suppliers within the borough of Oldham, in the launch of:
"Affordable Warmth for All: A Strategy for Oldham 2004 - 2010"
Download the Affordable Warmth strategy here
Our aim is to eliminate fuel poverty in all our homes by 2010.
"Annual Achievements 2005"
Download the Annual Achievements 2005 document here
If you are suffering from a cold home or know of someone that is, please call the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 or call your energy supplier for advice (see Contacts).
Contact Details
Address:
Energy Projects Officer
First
Choice Homes Oldham
Chadderton Town Hall
Middleton Road
Chadderton
Oldham
OL9
6PP
Telephone: 0161 770 4561
Fax: 0161 770 4607
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 9:00am until 5:00pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays: Closed