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Cold to Cosy Homes scheme responds to Covid-19

Our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service has been modified in response to the Coronavirus situation. We are currently offering only the free-of-charge emergency service to vulnerable households whose gas boiler has broken down. Call free to the LEAP call centre on 0800 060 7565 to find out if you or someone you know could be eligible for a free boiler replacement. This emergency boiler scheme, called ECHO, will run for the next few weeks, until the fund is used up. The scheme is aimed at households that are vulnerable and need immediate assistance to stay warm and well [...]

By |2020-03-19T11:07:10+00:00March 19th, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News|Comments Off on Cold to Cosy Homes scheme responds to Covid-19
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MPs join CAfS for Big Energy Saving Week 2020

It was a meeting of old friends and new on Friday as CAfS’ Cold to Cosy Homes officers teamed up with local MPs to spread the word to shoppers. This was in aid of Big Energy Saving Week 2020, a national campaign to help people cut energy bills with the support they need. This was very fitting for Andrew and Tina who have celebrating energy saving week for a few months by this point. At Morrisons in Penrith, Neil Hudson, the new MP for Penrith and the Border, spent just under an hour with Tina and Gemma from [...]

By |2020-01-24T17:09:35+00:00January 24th, 2020|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Homepage, News|Comments Off on MPs join CAfS for Big Energy Saving Week 2020
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Ambleside to zero carbon – the story so far

Could Ambleside become a zero carbon community? That’s certainly the goal of the town’s sustainability organisation, Ambleside Action for a Future (AAFAF), and CAfS is helping to make it a reality. In 2019, we began a package of support for the town, thanks to support from South Lakeland District Council and the Space to Connect fund. Here’s a quick guide to what’s been happening. All in the plan What would it take for Ambleside to become carbon neutral? That’s the big question, and we’re helping to answer it. We’re creating a detailed, costed programme that would lead AAFAF towards [...]

By |2019-12-20T10:49:35+00:00December 5th, 2019|Ambleside to Zero, Community energy, Home energy efficiency, News, Renewable energy|Comments Off on Ambleside to zero carbon – the story so far
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Cumbria seeks Cold to Cosy Champions

As the clocks go back, the days get shorter and people are switching on their lights and heating, Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) is seeking to recruit 20 energy champions as part of the Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria energy-saving service. “We’re looking for people from across South Lakes, Eden and beyond who are keen to save money on energy bills and are prepared to tell others about the help that’s on offer,” says Tina Holt, energy efficiency project officer with Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), which runs the service. “These champions could be volunteers in their communities, frontline [...]

By |2019-12-11T09:49:11+00:00October 30th, 2019|Draughtproofing, Home energy efficiency, Insulation, News|Comments Off on Cumbria seeks Cold to Cosy Champions
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New video charts renovation progress at 33a Chapel Street

If you cast your mind back to last summer, you might recall that we started following renovations at an old, stone-walled terraced house in Appleby. 33a Chapel Street’s journey from a flooded, damp building to a warm and cosy home is well under way, and you can see the progress so far in our latest video – a seven-minute recap on the works that have been done and the materials used. You’ll see how the old concrete floor and renders have been stripped out, replaced with an insulated limecrete floor and different types of lime plasters on the walls. [...]

By |2019-12-11T09:49:24+00:00October 30th, 2019|Home energy efficiency, Insulation, News|Comments Off on New video charts renovation progress at 33a Chapel Street
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South Lakes MP has light bulb moment with CAfS

A householder who took up our draughtproofing and energy-saving advice service in April was treated to a parliamentary privilege. Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, joined CAfS for a LEAP energy advice visit to Margaret from Kendal. Tim wanted to see first hand how this national service is benefiting residents, delivered in South Lakeland by CAfS, thanks to support from South Lakeland District Council. Margaret received tips on ways to keep her home warmer and we fitted low-energy LED bulbs and radiator reflector panels to bring her electricity and heating bills down - all free of charge. Andrew [...]

By |2019-05-01T14:36:58+01:00May 1st, 2019|Home energy efficiency, News|Comments Off on South Lakes MP has light bulb moment with CAfS
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Reinventing Retrofit: How to Scale Up Home Energy Efficiency in the UK

Green Alliance has recently published Reinventing Retrofit, a new report as part of a three-year strategy to decarbonise the heating and transport sectors. The report takes a closer look at a new and innovative approach to improving home energy efficiency called ‘Energiesprong’ (Dutch for 'energy leap'). It's a one-step approach to retrofitting homes, resulting in a home that's virtually net zero. The authors argue that adopting this approach could cut domestic peak heat demand in the UK by forty per cent and help decarbonise the heating system at a lower cost than current options. They recommend to the government [...]

By |2019-03-28T17:26:06+00:00March 28th, 2019|Home energy efficiency, News|Comments Off on Reinventing Retrofit: How to Scale Up Home Energy Efficiency in the UK
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Evening courses for trades, construction professionals and householders

We are offering evening courses especially for professionals and skilled householders involved in retrofitting existing buildings. You’ll learn about the techniques and materials to make buildings more energy efficient and weather resilient. The courses are priced at just £30, thanks to support from South Lakeland District Council and Kendal College, where all the courses will be held. The courses are led by James Innerdale (Crosby Granger Architects). James is a highly experienced architect specialising in the repair, conservation and adaptation of historic buildings. There are just 25 places on each course. Booking is now open. Here's some basic information about [...]

By |2019-05-09T13:20:14+01:00February 28th, 2019|Home energy efficiency, News|Comments Off on Evening courses for trades, construction professionals and householders
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