Help for residents, communities, and businesses in Dorset to reduce energy use and tackle rising costs will continue, according to a new report from Dorset Council.
Hot on the heels of The Big Green Week, a national campaign celebrating climate action, Dorset Council has published a draft report which looks at the progress it is making towards its climate and nature goals.
One of the achievements highlighted in the report is the continuation of the council’s two flagship energy-saving programmes, Healthy Homes Dorset and Low Carbon Dorset.
These programmes, which are a central part of the council’s plan to tackle emissions in the county, have secured extra funding. And residents and organisations across the Dorset Council area will continue to get help to save energy in their homes and buildings.
Delivered in partnership with BCP Council, Public Health Dorset and Ridgewater Energy, the Healthy Homes Dorset programme gives free energy advice, and helps homeowners and tenants in Dorset install wall and loft insulation and fit low-energy heating systems. Last year over 600 homes in Dorset benefitted from the support and the energy savings it brings.
Support from the Low Carbon Dorset programme, on the other hand, is aimed at helping organisations rather than households. Through this programme, community groups, charities, and businesses can get free advice and grants to help tackle emissions and rising energy costs.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“At a time when energy and living costs are so high, support from programmes like Low Carbon Dorset and Healthy Homes Dorset is more valuable than ever. I’m thrilled that we will now be able to help even more homes and organisations in Dorset save energy and money.
“These programmes will remain central in the council’s efforts to boost renewables, decarbonise heating, and improve energy efficiency in Dorset. And will be vital if we are to meet our goal of becoming a carbon-neutral county by 2050.”
More than 500 organisations in Dorset have already received support from Low Carbon Dorset to improve the efficiency of their buildings and install renewable energy systems.
One local organisation benefitting from this support is Washingpool Farm Shop, a family-run business based just outside of Bridport. Thanks to a grant from Low Carbon Dorset, this west Dorset farm was able to swap the open-fronted fridges in its shop for new door-fronted replacements. This simple efficiency measure has proven to be a game changer when it comes to electricity use, saving the farm shop thousands of pounds a year in energy costs.
Simon Holland, the owner of Washingpool Farm Shop, said:
“Upgrading the fridges in our shop was something we’d wanted to do for a while and the grant from Low Carbon Dorset made it achievable. The advice and guidance we were given from the team was amazing, really clear and personal.”
New funding for the programmes comes from a mixture of government funds including the Shared Prosperity Fund, the replacement for old EU funding, the Home Upgrade Grant, the Rural England Prosperity Fund, and Dorset Council.
Residents looking to access support should visit the Healthy Homes Dorset website or freephone 0300 003 7023.
Organisations, including voluntary or community groups and businesses, can apply for support by visiting the Low Carbon Dorset website.
Read more about the steps Dorset Council is taking to protect the county’s natural environment, climate and ecology in its draft Climate and Ecology Progress Report or by visiting the climate and ecology pages of its website: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/protecting-our-environment.
Hi
Very interested in the healthy homes programme, we live in a park home in East Dorset, My question is how can Park home owners benefit from your scheme my wife and I are both in our mid 70 ties
And not financially able to improve our heating.
Hi Ray everyone in Dorset is eligible for free energy advice through the Healthy Homes Dorset programme. To find out what other support would be available to you to save energy in your home, please visit the Healthy Homes Dorset website, or freephone 0300 003 7023 to speak to a member of the team.