Energy Group
The aim of Transition Town Llandeilo, as a whole, is to enable a resilient, vibrant, sustainable community. The Energy and Transport group’s part in that is to promote and enable energy reduction, responsible energy use and the generation of renewable energy for the community.
Our aim is to reduce the community’s reliance on fossil fuel-based energy and to increase awareness of the options available, and then to encourage their adoption.
We have initiated a number of programmes:
- We are working to raise awareness of energy consumption in domestic properties and to highlight the potential for energy reduction measures. Nationally domestic property accounts for some 27% of energy consumption. This figure is likely to be nearer 50% in Llandeilo and reducing domestic energy consumption is seem as critical to a sustainable community.
- A programme of alternative energy generation has been started and currently we are looking at the potential for hydro power. It is recognised that these will be relatively small schemes but it is intended that they lead to larger, more diverse schemes, including biomass or energy from waste.
- Being a largely rural, farming community we think there is a higher than usual use of diesel powered vehicles in the area. The group is intending to raise the awareness of biodiesel and vegetable oil as alternatives and to establish regular supplies of these fuels within the community.
- In the longer term the group is keen to investigate the potential for a car club and electric or hydrogen fuelled cars - the aim being to reduce overall petrol fuelled vehicle use.
We recognise that we are a small, poorly funded group to take on such a large task. Our belief is that as the programmes unfold more funds and more support will become available. Success breeds success and success in any of these programmes, however small, is a step in the right direction.
The group meets at The Castle in Llandeilo once a month. All are welcome to come along to meetings and get involved. For more information, please contact Tim Pullen who convenes the group, at timr.pullen@btinternet.com
Financial help with insulation, draughtproofing, energy saving lightbulbs, updating heating systems
HEES - the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme - is a Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative aimed at making homes in Wales warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. The HEES grant provides a package of heating and insulation improvements up to the value of £3,600.
A grant could cover : Installing cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, draughtproofing, energy-saving light bulbs, a hot water tank jacket, or a new or more efficient heating system.
If you or someone you know could benefit from a grant, or for more information, go to http://www.heeswales.co.uk/index.htm
Who qualifies?
There are two levels of the grant; HEES is for householders who are pregnant and in receipt of a MAT B1 certificate or families with children under 16. HEES Plus is for householders who are 60 and over, lone parents with children under 16 and persons who are receiving certain sickness or disability related benefits. All must be in receipt of the relevant benefits or allowances.
HEES (Grant of up to £2,000)
Householders who either have a child aged under 16 or are pregnant and have been given maternity certificate MAT B1 and are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit (with income less than £16,040)
- Council Tax Benefit
- Child Tax Credit (with income less than £16,040)
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
HEES Plus (grant of up to £3,600)
Householders who are either aged 60 or over or are lone parent families with a child aged less than 16 years, and are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- State Pension Credit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Or householders who are disabled or chronically ill and are receiving one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support (which must include the Disability Premium)
- Working Tax Credit (which must include the Disability Premium)
- Housing Benefit (which must include the Disability Premium)
- Council Tax Benefit (which must include the Disability Premium)
- War Disablement Pension (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance or Mobility Supplement)
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
Or householders, claiming Child Benefit, with a child under 16, with the child receiving:
- Disability Living Allowance
Householders living in Wales who are aged over 80 do not need to be in receipt of any benefits to automatically qualify for HEES Plus.
If you are aged 60 or over and you own your home, you may be eligible to claim up to £500 towards the cost of energy efficiency improvements, even if you are not in receipt of any benefits.
If you have a query about the HEES scheme, please call freephone 0800 316 2815.