SIX million pounds will be up for grabs next year to enable Lancashire residents to get energy saving measures to keep their homes warm and bills down.

A new initiative called Cosy Homes in Lancashire launched yesterday and will provide free or subsidised boilers and insulation measures as part of a partnership between every council in the county and a number of energy companies.

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This could mean that, depending on the type of energy efficiency measures you need and your circumstances, almost all residents could benefit from cheaper bills.

Councillor Yusuf Jan-Virmani, Blackburn with Darwen housing boss, said: “The Cosy Homes in Lancashire scheme is fantastic for Blackburn with Darwen and it is a really great way for people to install energy efficient features in their homes.

“It can make a big difference to your bills and the scheme is a lot more straightforward than others and I would encourage our residents to look into it and see if they qualify.”

At present, the private market for energy efficiency works can be complex and this is compounded by the high number of ‘hard-to-treat’ older properties that require expensive measures to improve them.

The Cosy Homes scheme has been set up by Lancashire’s local authorities to help households get the most out of the Government’s Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation schemes which have been designed to help insulate homes efficiently.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “We are very pleased the application by all the Lancashire councils for ECO funding was successful. It means residents in Burnley who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to apply for money towards getting central heating in their home for the first time this winter.”

Beyond the core work of heating and insulation, the scheme will also develop offers for households based around renewable energy technologies and energy tariff switching.

Firefly Energi are managing the scheme with a number of trusted installers responsible for fitting the heating and insulation measures into homes. Funding comes through grants from energy giant SSE and other companies as part of the government’s Energy Company Obligation, which requires them to deliver energy efficiency measures to help cut carbon emissions.

To sign up or to find out more information call 03306 061 488.

Alternatively, you can email info@chil.uk.com.