In London, the RE:NEW scheme, sponsored by the Mayor, and supported by all 32 Local Councils, is providing free home energy visits to help residents beat the winter chill and take care of the environment in the Borough of Camden. As well as saving householders money, the visits will also help residents to do their bit to tackle climate change, by reducing CO2 emissions. The fully retrofitted 'Camden eco-home' - the RE:NEW measures will not go quite this far...


Camden Council will be working with energy experts from Climate Energy who will visit homes to help residents identify fuel bill savings while also installing free energy and water saving measures worth up to £100. Where possible residents will also be given advice or be referred for grants for insulation and heating measures and renewable energy technologies.

Funding for the annual scheme is for different wards each year. RE:NEW is funded by the Mayor and all 32 London boroughs have signed as partners in the scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with London Councils and the Energy Saving Trust.

This year the scheme will be running in Kentish Town and Cantelowes wards up until the end of March 2012 and visits are booked on a first come first served basis.

Residents can sign up by contacting Camden Council's Green Camden helpline on 0800 801 738. The helpline can also advise on all Camden's energy saving grants and services which are available to residents in all wards of the borough.

Camden Council's Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Transport Councillor Sean Birch said: "We want to make sure residents are warm and comfortable over the winter months and this scheme means residents can heat their homes as efficiently as possible without wasting valuable resources."

Janet Brooks, Belsize, who took part last year when the scheme ran in the north-west of the borough benefitted from six free energy and water saving measures. She said: "I thoroughly recommend the scheme, we were very impressed with all of the measures, especially the stand-by switch which has helped my daughter to remember to switch off all her appliances!"

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "Retrofitting London's homes has a multiplicity of benefits. It makes sound economic sense by saving you money on your fuel bills at a time when they are rising, it is helping to create a raft of new green jobs and it is good for the environment. I would urge residents of Camden eligible for RE:NEW to take full advantage of this free service."