Energy efficiency advice

Home energy consumption is responsible for over a quarter of all UK emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas causing climate change. Making your home as energy efficient as possible will improve your comfort, save you money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

For advice on improving the energy efficiency of your home, contact the council’s Sustainable Energy Officer, Hazel Hill on 01344 352536.

Alternatively visit Your Energy Matters low carbon advisory centre, 4 Charles Square, Bracknell.

Your Energy Matters was opened to provide information to local residents about the Thames Valley Vision smart grid project and to advise them about low carbon living. The centre is managed by Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) in partnership with Bracknell Forest Council and is open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Hazel has a workstation at the centre with access to the council’s Home Energy Efficiency Database. Local residents can request a sample Energy performance report showing the energy efficiency of their home along with recommendations for improvements.

Home energy monitors

Home energy monitors are available on loan for three weeks from all Bracknell Forest libraries. The monitor clips on the electricity supply cable by your meter and shows your electricity consumption, cost, or greenhouse gas emissions on a wireless portable display inside the house. This shows the changes when you switch appliances on or off and the effect of appliances left on standby.

Energy efficiency grants and subsidies

The Green Deal is a new way for property owners and tenants to pay for some or all of the improvements over time through their electricity bill. Repayments will be no more than a typical household should save in energy costs. Many householders in older properties and those on benefits or low incomes may qualify for extra financial assistance through the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO).

From the launch of the Green Deal in January 2013, the government is offering a Green Deal Cashback Scheme to incentivise energy efficiency improvements on a first come first served basis.

Homeowners over 60 may qualify for a council Flexible Home Improvement Loan. These low interest loans are secured against the property and may be repaid at a rate that suits the borrower.

The council’s Warm & Well scheme helps vulnerable, older or disabled people to keep their homes warm and reduce their heating costs by adding insulation, undertaking boiler repairs or helping towards boiler replacements.

Home energy efficiency report

Measures we are taking to improve the energy efficiency of our residential accommodation are outlined in our HECA Report.

Renewable energy

Bracknell Forest Council can also provide advice on suitable renewable energy technologies for your home.

In 2010 the UK Government introduced a system of Feed-in Tariffs to encourage people to install technologies to generate renewable electricity. By December 2012, 440 Bracknell Forest households had installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on their roofs.

The Renewable Heat Incentive is expected to be introduced in the summer of 2013 to encourage domestic customers to install renewable heat technologies.