Cumbria Action for Sustainability
Eden Rural Foyer
Old London Road
Penrith
CA11 8ET
Cumberland
Westmorland and Furness
We help Cumbrians to reduce their heating bills, amongst many other sustainability projects. Current schemes: Free draught-proofing equipment & installation across all districts of Cumbria.
A bit more about CAfS: We're a charity working across Cumbria from our base in Penrith, helping individuals, businesses and communities to become more sustainable.
CAfS promotes low carbon living, energy saving and reduced use of fossil fuels throughout Cumbria, by providing information, advice and motivation through educational events, site visits and practical projects.
We work with householders, local environmental action groups, parish councils, communities, businesses, indeed anyone who wants to help tackle climate change and rising energy costs in Cumbria.
CAfS services include:
* Energy saving advice and draught-proofing. See below for details of our newest project, "Cold to Cosy Homes, Cumbria"
* Support communities and organisations to take action through providing advice, information and resources
* Provide training and events to increase skills of those in the area from homeowners to architects and planners, particularly on how to improve energy efficiency of older buildings
* Organise the annual Cumbria Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival, encouraging people to learn about clever low-energy buildings and home improvements. And get ideas to cut carbon footprints and live more sustainably.
* Provide various services from home energy audits, to larger projects for local agencies.
Cold to Cosy Homes, Cumbria:
A new service from September 2019 building on past experiences in Cumbria. Extended to the whole of Cumbria in September 2020.
Working in partnership with LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) as well as all councils in Cumbria.
Cold to Cosy Homes provides energy advice visits for households and can provide installation of a wide range of practical energy saving improvements.
It is available across Cumbria for people who meet the eligibility criteria.
Project background
The project is aiming to help over 4000 Cumbrian households over three years, with telephone advice calls (or home visits when feasible). We can also advise people using webinars or face to face events.
CAfS can offer this thanks to funding from the Energy Redress Scheme, which redistributes voluntary payments from UK energy companies. We partner with the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) to deliver it.
What is involved?
A FREE home energy efficiency advice call from a qualified CAfS assessor who can:
• Provide energy saving advice - including using heating systems, setting thermostats and radiator valves, dampness and ventilation, insulation, checking fuel tariff and switching
• Post out free energy saving measures, such as LED bulbs and draught proofing
• Refer for the free fitting of professionally installed energy saving improvements
• Help check energy tariffs and offer switching advice
• Refer for larger energy efficiency measures, such as insulation and heating
• Refer for income, benefit and debt advice, Warm Home Discount, Priority Services Register, Fire Service visit and help with other home hazards
• Refer to a variety of schemes provided by local agencies and charities
Who is eligible?
Any home, regardless of tenure, where any member of the household meets the eligibility criteria, which are based on household income and benefits, vulnerability and a range of health conditions.
Referrals
There are a number of ways to make a referral for eligible Cumbrian households:
• Go to www.cosyhomes.org.uk and complete the online form (from 1st September 2019)
• Use the Multi Agency Referral System (for registered organisations)
• Call CAfS on 01768 216500 and speak to a member of our team
Any information you can provide about why you think the person you are referring should be entitled to help from Cold to Cosy Homes will help. Plus brief details of any specific help required, such as tariff check, draught proofing front and back doors.
To find out more contact us.