Cheshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, 5 Grange Lane, Winsford, CW7 2BP

Cheshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre is one of two centres run by Energy Projects Plus (EP+) a charity (Registered Charity : 1080 137) with the following mission statement:

"We continually seek opportunities to develop partnerships to improve energy efficiency, alleviate fuel poverty and reduce the impact on the environment through energy and sustainability projects."

The centre operates as part of a nation-wide network of Advice Centres, launched by the Energy Saving Trust in 1993, providing cost-effective, free, impartial energy efficiency advice to householders and small to medium businesses.

We are part funded by the Energy Saving Trust but need to raise additional funding from local authorities and other sponsors to continue offering our services to the community.

Our core services comprise:

• Free phone and Freepost advice service to all Cheshire residents

• Free Home Energy Reports: every home is different, and by letting us know as much as possible about your home, we can advice on how much can be saved. We send a personalised report with recommendations for your home, their costs and details of savings you could make. We also include details of any grants that you may be able to claim.

• Giving talks and presentations to local groups, such as the Women’s Institute, Soroptimists, Gingerbread, Pensioners Groups, and Luncheon Clubs, promoting energy saving measures relevant to everyday living.

• Marketing and promoting energy efficiency via a free phone line - 0800 512 012. The national network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres provides free, impartial advice and is supported by the Energy Saving Trust, a non-profit distributing organisation funded by the Government.

• Displays and Energy Road Shows, promoting Energy Efficiency, (which, subject to funding, can sometimes include handing out free low energy light bulbs), promoting grants and initiatives relevant to the residents of the local community.

Through our broad base approach to energy efficiency promotion we undertake other projects, which include:

• School projects: delivering presentations to students and staff promoting energy efficiency at home and within their school. Working in Local Authority Partnership Areas and targeting schools in socially deprived areas with the aim of running longer term projects.

• Working in partnership with Local Authorities who now have a duty under the 1995 Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) to improve the energy efficiency of their public and private sector housing.

• Working with landlords to provide tenants with advice specific to their homes, advising of grants, and good housekeeping to the benefit of both tenant and landlord.

• Working with communities with the aim of training community energy champions who would be able to offer advice to fellow community members.

• Training in energy awareness to front-line staff, tenants’ representatives, Council Members etc.

In line with our mission statement we endeavour to work closely with community groups, residents organisations, local authorities and housing associations, small business services, other environmental groups, Chambers of Commerce and other companies, to take the energy saving message to as many homes and businesses as possible.

All staff are trained to a minimum level of City and Guilds Energy Awareness with a number of staff holding higher qualifications and considerable experience in the energy efficiency field.

For further information e-mail us at
Email
or call 01606 594 132 ( local freephone 0800 512 012)