Earth Matters:A regular column from people working collaboratively to reduce the carbon footprint of the Chew Valley.

As Autumn creeps in and we feel its chill, the issue of how much it costs to heat our homes is inevitably in sharp focus.

The B&NES Energy at Home website is a great resource for funding and support for those who may be struggling to heat their homes : https://www.energyathome.org.uk/funding and they also have an advice line: 01225 47 72 77 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Wednesday 9.30am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 4.30pm).

In the short term this could really help people cope.

If you are 60 or over, or are a person living with a disability of any age you may also find it helpful to contact WE Care Home Improvements Phone 0300 323 0700, email [email protected]  or visit www.wecr.org.uk  who can offer support and advice in applying for funding or loans as well as practical support , such as helping fix broken heating.

Seen from a longer term view, autumn is also a good time to have a home energy survey carried out to assess the ways your home could be better insulated and to think about swapping out heat sources based on fossil fuels (with their volatile pricing and environmental damage) for greener alternatives. B&NES version of the government’s Home Upgrade Grant Scheme is called Bright Green Homes. Various sources of funding is available to anyone meeting the following criteria:

● Currently on Electric, Oil, LPG or Solid Fuel heating (homes with gas central heating are not eligible)

● Household income must be below £36,000 per year (unless your postcode is in a specific area – see below*)

● An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. You can check yours at: www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

There are also other sources of funding listed on the website and information about low cost loans for those who don’t meet the criteria but need to find ways forward.

The fact is making good choices for your home comfort and your pocket will also be making good choices for the planet, and there is much support and funding