With energy prices expected to increase by 10% in October and further price rises anticipated in January 2025, households across York are bracing themselves for higher energy bills.
To support York residents, a new service called YorEnergy is launching on 29 October to help people lower their bills by installing sustainable and more energy-efficient home energy and heating solutions.
Energy-efficient options such as insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels can lower energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and help save money on energy bills.
Heat pumps were shown to be three times more efficient than gas boilers in research undertaken by Energy Systems Catapult. They also found that replacing gas boilers with air source heat pumps can achieve an average reduction of 58% in annual energy consumption for home owners.
An all-in-one service that connects residents with local suppliers
YorEnergy offers a friendly all-in-one service to guide residents through the process. This includes free advice on the best energy-saving options for new and existing homes.
The partners are part of a consortium that are collaborating in the Retrofit One Stop Shop York project whose key focus is on producing smart, low-carbon energy systems to help achieve net-zero targets in York. Some of these systems are provided on the YorEnergy website.
The consortium partners were successful in obtaining funding from Innovate UK to deliver the Retrofit One Stop Shop York project. The consortium partners are led by City of York Council and also include York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Brightsparks Agency Ltd, Energy Systems Catapult Limited, Wrapt Homes Ltd, University of York, York Community Energy CBS Limited, and Abundance Investment Ltd.
YorEnergy will help residents manage the cost of their chosen solutions with access to grants and financing options. Handy tools such as a free virtual plan builder and the ability to book a free home assessment will help residents to understand the process and which solutions are best for their home. A dedicated qualified retrofit coordinator will help residents source quotations from an accredited YorEnergy supplier marketplace. The team is on hand to help residents access high-quality installations and peace of mind.
Energy efficient solutions for every type of York home
Energy-efficient options aren’t just for modern homes. They are also effective in older properties. Andrew and Henrietta, from Fishergate, renovated their single-brick Victorian family home which previously suffered from draughty rooms, condensation, mould, and high energy bills.
The couple installed energy-efficient solutions like new triple-glazed windows, insulation, underfloor heating, solar panels, a home battery, and a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system.
Andrew said: “It was a lot of work but with help from local suppliers, we successfully added insulation, solar panels and a battery so we can generate and store our own energy. Overall we estimate we have halved the heat lost from the house.”
The renovations have made their home more comfortable and healthy whilst preserving period features such as decorative cornicing and window shutters.Their home is now cheaper to run and better for the environment due to lower carbon emissions.
Government funding for a more sustainable York
The launch of YorEnergy by a consortium of partners supports York’s commitment to reaching net zero.
David Skaith, York and North Yorkshire Mayor, said: “We want residents to be able to afford to heat their homes so that they feel warm and safe. By retrofitting homes, we can help residents achieve the comfort they want in their homes, and by maximising energy efficiency, achieve this in a way that helps York and North Yorkshire achieve its commitment to net zero by 2034. The YorEnergy project will empower York householders to make impactful changes to their properties thanks to this new online service which provides access to expert advice and services.”
Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Housing at City of York Council, said: ''To identify the right Government grants for you, now is the time to speak to YorEnergy about which energy-efficient solutions will suit and upgrade your home. This tailored advice from YorEnergy will help eligible residents achieve a healthier, warmer and more sustainable living space.’’
A great way to start your journey with YorEnergy is to use our free virtual plan builder on our website, which will show you what options are available to you and how they can help lower your bills. No matter which option you choose, we will be there to support you every step of the way.
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