Case studyCold to Cosy Homes
A project from Cumbria Action for Sustainability, helping protect those most in need from fuel poverty, with expert advice or professionally installed energy measures.
Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) enables people, communities and businesses to work more sustainably through various projects and volunteer work.
They successfully secured £148,270 in funding under Round 2 of the Energy Redress Scheme for their Cold to Cosy Homes project.
Project aims
The Cold to Cosy Homes project aims to help 600 households in Cumbria cut their heating costs. Home Energy advisors provide in-home energy assessments as well as face to face and telephone advice to improve energy saving and draught proofing measures.
CAfS saw there was an awareness problem for those suffering through fuel poverty in the winter months. By applying to the Energy Redress Scheme and securing funding for their project, CAfS was able to help their community. Not having the resources to complete this on their own, they partnered with the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) to deliver critical energy saving advice, install energy saving measures and conduct over 300 home advice visits during the first year of the project.
We believe we’ve seen sufficient demand currently for at least 300 home advice visits per year, per district (for all 6 districts). At present the project aims to provide 300 per year Cumbria wide. Partnership working has been crucial and a working ongoing relationship with the local authorities in particular has been the underpinning factor leading to our Year 1 successes.
Andrew Northcott, Energy Efficiency Project Manager
Project impact
CAfS ran several energy awareness referral promotions with their Champions, where demand was high.
Started in February 2019, the project has completed over 300 home visits to vulnerable energy consumers. Protecting those most in need from fuel poverty, and providing expert advice or professionally installed energy measures.
Cold to Cosy Homes has been going really well. Something everyone at CAfS is very proud of and most importantly, that so many people have been benefiting from home advice and access to referrals including the Cold to Cosy Homes draught proofing service.
Andrew Northcott, Energy Efficiency Project Manager
Since the completion of the project Cumbria Action for Sustainability have now rebranded to Futureproof Cumbria. Discover the subsequent funding awarded to them through the Energy Redress Scheme.