Sunday Mail (UK)

Energy advice to keep you cosy

Expert help is on hand for all

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When it’s cold and wintry outside, it’s important to make sure our homes are cosy and that we stay warm and well.

As we age, our immune systems get weaker and less able to fight off viruses, so it’s vital for the elderly to beat the winter chills.

Older people also feel the cold more because they lose the muscle mass needed to keep warm and moving about.

And the cold can make health problems more difficult to manage as it affects our hearts and circulatio­n.

But with fuel bills rising, it can be a struggle to heat a home at this time of year – and for some elderly people it can come down to a choice of heating or eating.

The best way to keep the costs down is to make sure your home is efficientl­y heated with good insulation, but the upfront cost can be off-putting.

That’s where the Scottish Government can help you keep warm this winter with funding for home improvemen­ts.

Their Warmer Homes Scotland programme provides improvemen­ts such as insulation, double glazing, or a new heating system for eligible households, worth about £5000. And with winter fast approachin­g and fuel bills about to soar, the Government’s Home Energy Scotland is urging householde­rs living north of the Border to act now and make their home more energy efficient.

You may be able to get a grant from the Scottish

Government’s Warmer Homes Scotland programme, which supports households struggling to stay warm and keep on top of energy bills. The grants are to help eligible homeowners and private sector tenants, who have lived in their property for at least a year, to make their homes warmer and more comfortabl­e by installing a range of energysavi­ng improvemen­ts.

It’s easy to apply – all you need to do is call Home Energy Scotland who will give you clear and impartial advice to make your home warmer.

A recent report by Home Energy Scotland revealed that 61 per cent of Scottish residents have used more energy this year due to spending more time at home during the pandemic.

The report also discovered that 59 per cent of Scots have noticed a rise in their energy bills.

About 24,000 households in Scotland have already benefited from support from Warmer Homes Scotland.

Act now to insulate your bank balance against sky-high fuel bills before winter really sets in by calling the helpline.

 ?? ?? Don’t let cold weather get the better of you in your own home
Don’t let cold weather get the better of you in your own home

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