RESIDENTS are helping the environment and saving money on their fuel bills at the same time thanks to advice from their landlord.

Erimus Housing and its partner Tees Valley Housing are holding workshops for residents in their sheltered housing schemes to help them save money and go green.

Energy saving tips and switching fuel suppliers are on the agenda for people attending the sessions run in each scheme by the landlords, which are part of Fabrick Housing Group.

Residents have the chance to receive a PowerDown plug to ensure their TV or PC is not left on standby, some energy saving light bulbs, and receive advice from the landlords’ financial advice team, Tandem.

People living at The Erimus-run Glastonbury House in Priestfields, Middlesbrough, were the latest residents to receive the information and advice.

Sonia Lavery, who lives in Glastonbury House, said: “Speaking to people about these issues is very important.

“It was all explained very simply which is good because everybody needs to save money nowadays.”

The move is just one initiative being carried out as part of Fabrick Housing Group’s green agenda, which aims to influence and support staff, tenants, partners and stakeholders to help them work towards One Planet Living.

One Planet Living centres on the fact there is only one planet Earth yet currently the average UK citizen uses resources equivalent to three planets, highlighting the need for change.

Other initiatives carried out by the Group include employees taking part in a cycle to work scheme and linking with local companies which use the Group’s waste as raw materials, reducing its waste, costs and carbon footprint.

A major campaign to reduce electricity usage within the company is also ongoing, with initial results from energy performance surveys showing a 19% reduction in electricity use emissions in the offices using the most electricity.

Fabrick Housing Group was also recently shortlisted for two national awards in Inside Housing’s Sustainability Awards. The awards will be held later in the year.

Sam Granger, Sustainability Coordinator, said: “Conserving energy has never been more important. By reducing the energy we use in our homes, we can reduce our impact on the environment - and our wallets.

“With fuel bills set to rise again this year, we want to ensure our most vulnerable residents are not spending too much on their energy bills, whilst still enjoying a comfortable standard of living.

“We also want to get people to plan early for higher fuel bills during the winter months and that’s why we’ve started a series of energy awareness sessions across our sheltered housing schemes.”
 

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