Over the past 12 years Energy Alton’s volunteer energy champions have visited more than 500 homes free of charge to advise people on reducing their energy use – leading to lower bills, lower carbon impact and comfortable homes.

Energy Alton’s new community project, Home Energy Support Team Alton, makes it easier for residents to act on the advice and install energy efficiency measures such as draught proofing, insulation and secondary glazing.

After a free energy survey residents can talk to and visit green home champions – local homeowners who have made their homes more energy efficient and want to share their experience of how they did it.

With East Hampshire District Council and Alton Town Council funding, Energy Alton is offering grants of up to £100 to help pay for the cost of any installation – and it has compiled a list of local handypeople who can carry out the work. The grants are for anyone in a home with a council tax band of A to D.

Brian Good, of Alton, had a free energy survey from an Energy Alton volunteer energy champion. One suggestion was to increase the depth of loft insulation to cut heat escape through the ceiling.

Topping up loft insulation can save £40 on bills and 95kg of carbon dioxide per year. Brian contacted Chris, one of the handypeople on the list, who fitted the insulation.

He said: “Chris was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable and gave us plenty of good ideas. After we had the loft insulation increased we really felt the difference during the recent cold spell. I wish we had done it years ago!”

Visit https://energyalton.org.uk