Wrap your home up for next winter

As we look towards spring Salford City Council is encouraging its residents to see how they can wrap their homes up against the cold in time for next winter. Now people in more areas are eligible to save money on new insulation and boilers.

Homeowners in central Salford can already take advantage of discounts on wall and loft insulation and condensing central heating boilers. Now residents in West Salford (see notes for editors) can do the same.

Un-insulated homes loose 60% of their heat through the walls and roof, and boilers that are not energy efficient can run up high heating bills. Prices for cavity wall and loft insulation, in central Salford and west Salford, start from as low as £50 for homeowners living in an electrically heated 2/3 bed mid-terrace house. Similar savings can be made on the cost of loft insulation.

These modifications not only make homes warmer by reducing the amount of heat that escapes but also cuts fuel bills by an average £150 a year.

There is further good news for home-owners aged 60 and over. The west Salford scheme has additional discounts off the price of loft insulation top-ups. In addition, they may also qualify for a £250 discount off the price of selected energy efficient gas central heating boilers.

To date 752 homes have taken advantage of these schemes to install cavity wall insulation with a further 646 households signing up for the discount on loft insulation. 63 households have so far applied for a grant to install a new condensing boiler.

"Lead member for housing, Cllr Peter Connor, says: "The creation of these schemes demonstrates Salford City Council's commitment to both the well-being of its residents and the environment."

He added: "It is important we make vulnerable people in our communities aware of these initiatives. Around 45,000 more people die in winter than during other seasons of the year and a warm, cosy house may help prevent some of these deaths, particularly among the elderly."

• To find out how you can obtain your discounted cavity wall and loft insulation contact Insulation UK on 0800 783 0301.
• For replacing inefficient central heating boilers contact Scottish Power on 0800 027 4477.

Notes for editors:

• Central Salford incorporates: Irwell Riverside, Broughton, Claremont, Kersal, Langworthy, Ordsall, Pendlebury (part) and Weaste & Seedley.
• West Salford incorporates: Barton, Boothstown & Ellenbrook, Cadishead, Halton, Irlam, Little Hulton, Pendlebury (part), Swinton North, Swinton South, Walkden North, Walkden South, Winton & Worsley.