Kirkby residents are set to benefit from free home energy saving improvements.

Knowsley Council is working in partnership with Wetherby Building Systems to help homeowners, landlords and private tenants improve their energy efficiency with external wall insulation, energy efficient boilers and loft insulation.

To be eligible for the scheme, homes need to be located in certain areas of Kirkby and meet certain criteria. Eligible homeowners have already been contacted and some have attended open days to find out more about the programme.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills said: “Helping our residents to become more energy efficient is really important to us and we already work closely with local communities and businesses to achieve this.

“The energy saving measures available as part of this particular scheme will also benefit residents by helping them to save money on their energy bills.

“As this scheme is restricted to certain areas, we are also working with utility companies to identify further opportunities to assist even more homeowners and tenants to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.”

The Kirkby Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) is aimed at improving homes which were built in the ‘No Fines’ style. This means that they are of a concrete construction and do not have a cavity. As such they are commonly referred to as ‘hard to heat’ as the process of insulating them is more expensive and harder to achieve.

The external insulation acts like a ‘tea cosy’ on homes, retaining warmth and making it easier to maintain a comfortable and healthy temperature. The improvements could help residents to save up to £400* per year through reduced heating bills.

The scheme is one of the largest Private Homeowner Initiative projects to date and is due to be complete by October.

This scheme will complement the wider regeneration of Kirkby which will see more than £200 million of both public and private investment come into the town. Kirkby town centre will be transformed with the creation of a new Tesco superstore, additional retail units, a new health centre, improved public facilities and enhancements to public space.

For any Kirkby CESP enquiries call Dave Watts on 443 3558.

*Based on Government figures

Comments

[John K Lemieux]

Good to know that CESP is aimed at improving homes.. This can beneficial to everybody.

[Cheap Loft Insulation]

Loft insulation is a onetime project; it does not wear out or lose its effectiveness. It is installed above the ceiling and rolled or blown between the joists. This is what makes the installation a little tricky for a do it yourselfer.