Warm Homes Action Group

Background

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) tells you how energy efficient a property is, giving an energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years. There must be a 'live' EPC on a property when you’re selling, renting out or building a new one.

The UK government reinforced its ambition to upgrade all homes to EPC C by 2035 in its Net Zero Strategy, published in 2021.

The latest Government statistics, up to March 2023, show that for existing dwellings in England 38.08% reached EPC C, while for the North East Region the figure was 39.30% and for Northumberland it was 35.59%. Government statistics up to the same date also show that for existing houses in Berwick the median energy efficiency rating was D.

The Warm Homes Action Group was set up in the latter part of 2022 with the aim of improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock in the Berwick area. This will help to make the homes warmer, and so more healthy, cheaper to heat, and to have less of an environmental impact.

Martin Laidler and Colin Elliot are co-convenors.

Objectives of our group

To improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock in the Berwick area.
To provide information to households about the benefits and importance of energy efficiency measures.
To enable households to apply for funding, such as ECO4 and and the Great British Insulation Scheme, which will finance the installation of energy efficiency measures and low carbon forms of heating, such as heat pumps.
To provide information to enable households to make savings on their energy bills.
To start a conversation around climate change more generally across the Berwick area.

Starting point

Awareness raising across the Berwick area, about the help and assistance available from the larger energy companies to eligible households living in cold homes, through the targeted delivery of information leaflets.
Awareness raising across the Berwick area of the Home Energy Advice service provided by Community Action Northumberland (CAN) as part of Home Energy Advice North East.
Provision of information to enable Berwick households, who may not otherwise be aware of the Home Energy Advice North East service, to enable them to reduce their energy bills. This could be as part of other Greener Berwick activities, such as a Repair Café, or a stall at an event such as the Berwick Food & Beer Festival.

Latest news

Read the latest Action Group updates

More info

Home Energy Advice Service

From spring 2024, North East residents have been able to benefit from a new free comprehensive energy advice service aimed at improving home energy efficiency across the region.

Northumberland residents are now able to access a one-stop shop for energy advice, which will guide them through the steps needed to make home energy improvements, enabling them to reduce their carbon emissions and lower their energy bills.

This part of the service includes the Energy Advice North East website featuring energy saving advice and giving residents the option to create a report tailored to their home. The report gives recommendations on how to make their home warmer, use less energy and save money, as well as providing links to local installers who can do the work.

Across Northumberland, Community Action Northumberland are providing extra in-person support for more vulnerable households, or those in rural or hard to treat homes.

The service can be accessed via: https://energyadvicenortheast.co.uk/

Home Energy Advice North East

Energy efficiency funding for eligible homes

Greener Berwick is currently raising awareness about the help and assistance available from the larger energy companies for eligible households living in cold homes.

Links to energy companies

Finding an installer for small scale renewable energy technologies, such as solar PV and heat pumps

It is recommended that you obtain two or three quotes, requesting a technical survey, not a sales visit.

Choose an installation and installer certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The MCS certifies, quality assures and provides consumer protection for microgeneration installations and installers. They have a search tool facility on their website, which enables you to identify local contractors:

Visit the MCS website

You should also check that your chosen installer has signed up to the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). This sets out consumer protection standards for businesses who are selling or leasing renewable energy generation systems to domestic consumers. It is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute as part of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme and is also a TrustMark Scheme Operator. In order to find members of the RECC, please use the search facility on their website:

Visit the RECC website