Harrogate Borough Council

 
 

Environmental Strategy

Environmental Strategy Manager

01423 556801 (9.00-17.15)

01423 556720 (fax)

Springfield House
Kings Road
Harrogate
HG1 5NX

Documents

Harrogate District Local Agenda 21 Plan (957K, pdf)

50 Steps To A Sustainable Lifestyle (346K, pdf)

Householders' Guide to Renewable Energy (6,120K, pdf)

Energy

There is a lot of advice and information available to help you make choices about your energy use. There are also grants and discount to help you afford changes to your home.

You decide

It is easy to use energy, without thinking, as light at the flick of a switch, or as heat with the turn of a knob.  Understanding the issues about our energy use will help us make informed choices.  Some people are concerned with global energy issues, and some with environmental problems, but to everyone the issues of cost are important.

 

Home Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency saves your money, helps the environment, and can make your home a healthier place to live.
 
Find out about:
Grants and discounts for energy efficiency
 
You can get free cavity wall insulation if you receive certain benefits.
 
Some people on certain benefits can also get heating improvements and better loft insulation through the Government's 'Warmfront' grant.
 
All homeowners or private tenants not on benefits can get special discounts  for cavity wall insulation.
 
Approved installers are used, and quality checks are carried out.
 
To find out more, or to apply for a grant or discount, call the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512 012
 
Back to Energy Efficiency
 
Top tips to save up to £200 per year
Try these practical measures and save on your fuel bills:-
  • Radiator foils, reflective material placed behind a radiator, reflects the heat back into the room easy to fit and can save up to £20 per year
  • A hot water tank jacket properly fitted saves about £20 per year 
  • Choose energy efficient fridges, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers (white goods) 'A' rated products could save £45 per year. Look for the logo.
  • Central heating: Some people overheat their homes. Just turning your thermostat down by one degree centigrade could cut your heating bill by 10%, saving you at least £10 per year Loft insulation
  • Loft insulation saves around £50 per year
  • Cavity Wall insulation saves up to £75 per year
  • When boiling a kettle, only use the water you need, do not overfill, and in only one week you will have saved enough energy to light you house for a whole day
  • Do not leave the television on standby, this can cost up to £30 per year
  • Always make sure you have a full load before switching the washing machine on 
  • Lighting: Installing just one energy saving bulb can save up to £10 a year. They now come in all shapes and sizes including spotlights and halogen bulbs.
Back to Energy Efficiency
 
DIY Home Energy Checks
Call the Home Energy Conservation Officer on 01423 556909 or email energy@harrogate.gov.uk to request a free DIY Home Energy Check form.
 
Complete the form, send it off, and receive personalised energy advice for your home.
 
Back to Energy Efficiency
 
Energy efficiency bingo!
Energy Efficiency Bingo is a fun game packed with energy efficiency advice, with great prizes on offer.
 
The Home Energy Conservation Officer can carry out bingo sessions free of charge for community groups who meet during the day. 
 
To request a free bingo session or further information please contact John ward-Campbell, Home Energy Conservation Officer on 01423 556909 or email energy@harrogate.gov.uk
 
Back to Energy Efficiency
 
Further information on energy efficiency
You can contact Harrogate Borough Council's Home Energy Conservation Officer for any more information on the grants and special offers for increasing energy efficiency. 
t 01423 556909 or e-mail
e: energy@harrogate.gov.uk.
 
Also see the York & North Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre website:
www.energypartnership.org.uk
 
And the Energy Saving Trust website
www.est.org.uk
 
Back to energy efficiency
 

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is a solution to the problem of energy generation from fossil fuels: The generation of power from renewable sources does not produce the greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change, it is not running out, and its costs are falling not rising. No one can own the sun or the wind so no one can charge you for using it.

Renewable energy can be installed in your home and some businesses to save you money and help relieve the impacts on North Yorkshire and beyond.

Download our Householders' Guide to Renewable Energy (6,120K pdf)

Harrogate Borough Council can assist you in finding grants for renewable energy technologies. 

More information is available by clicking on the links below:

solar PV
panels
    wind turbines
Solar energy logo solar hot water panels   Solar energy logo heat pumps
hydro turbines      bioenergy

 

Purchasing renewable energy technology allows you to use natural unlimited energy resources for free without releasing harmful gases to the environment; producing your own energy even lets you sell your energy to the energy companies.

For more information you can contact Harrogate Borough Council's Environment Strategy team

t: 01423 556827, or email e: energy@harrogate.gov.uk

Renewable electricity suppliers
You may be able to get electricity generated from renewable resources directly from you current energy supplier
For more information, visit www.energywatch.co.uk

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Ground Source Heat Pump scheme

In 2005, we installed Ground Source Heat Pumps in eight council-owned bungalows as a trial project.

As a result of the trial, we are now installing Heat Pumps in many more council homes.

Follow these links to more information about the scheme

For more information on the scheme, contact Andrew Ellis andrew.ellis@harrogate.gov.uk

 

The Problem with Britain's Energy...

 
Our electricity comes from power stations that use turbines, which turn generators and convert movement into electricity.   Some burn oil, coal or gas (collectively known as fossil fuels) to heat water and produce steam, (nuclear reactions can also be used to heat the water) which power the turbines. Central heating systems can use fossil fuels too, however; fossil fuels are getting scarcer in Britain so are bought from other countries, so we are not completely in control of how much electricity we can produce.  In turn this means we cannot control the prices of electricity or the cost of heating our homes.  If we can generate some of our own electricity or heat from renewable sources, our dependency on fossil fuels is reduced.
Consequences in North Yorkshire
International and UK scientists agree that gases
given off by burning fossil fuels are collecting in the atmosphere and trapping the radiated heat from the earth. These gases in the atmosphere act like a greenhouse causing global temperature to rise, known as Global Warming.
The warming causes changes to UK weather patterns, known as Climate Change. These changes include more extremes of weather, such as storms, hot spells leading to droughts and higher rainfall leading to floods which all damages the property and lives of people in North Yorkshire.  North Yorkshire is only one area where there will be problems; the extremes of weather will be more aggressive in other areas of the world.
What can be done?

Energy consumption in North Yorkshire and in Britain is rising. This can be taken as a sign that quality of life is improving. More homes have improved central heating systems and additional domestic appliances indicating that households are enjoying increasing comfort.

Fossil fuels have helped Britain achieve this present standard of living.   This way of producing energy is predicted to increase in cost dramatically.  However energy companies are starting to produce renewable energy which is available to homes and businesses.  Individuals can even use renewable technologies to produce energy in their own homes. Also, everyone should make sure they use energy as efficiently as possible.
 
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Page updated: 15 October 2007
Harrogate Borough Council, Council Offices, Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2SG, Tel: (01423) 500600