South Ribble Borough Council is encouraging residents, businesses, and community organisations to take advantage of a new solar energy scheme – MakeMyHouseGreen - designed to help reduce energy bills.
The scheme offers free access to expert advice, a free online solar assessment tool and an exclusive £600 discount on solar panel and battery storage installations.
Those interested in saving through solar can assess support at www.makemyhousegreen.com/southribble.
Councillor Kath Unsworth, Cabinet Member for Environment and Streetscene, said, "There's no denying that people are struggling with the rising cost of electricity and anything that we can do to improve energy security for our residents is high on our agenda.
"One thing we hear regularly is that greener ways of powering homes and businesses are often seen as too complicated, expensive or out of reach for many people.
"That's why we've partnered with MakeMyHouseGreen. We want to make solar technology more accessible and affordable for people across South Ribble.
"Through this new scheme, eligible residents, businesses and community organisations can receive an exclusive £600 discount on solar panel and battery installations.”
Although there is an upfront cost to installing solar panels, they can help households and organisations make significant long-term savings on their energy bills while reducing their carbon footprint.
The scheme makes it simple for residents, community groups, and businesses to find out whether solar power is right for them. It provides clear information about installation costs, potential savings, and the installation process, helping people make informed decisions about renewable energy.
Using the free online calculator, you can quickly see how many solar panels could be installed on your roof, estimated installation costs and the potential savings you could make by generating your own renewable electricity. Homeowners, business owners, and community buildings are all eligible to benefit from the scheme.
Llewellyn Kinch, CEO and Founder of MakeMyHouseGreen said, "People are understandably cautious about committing to something that may not be right for their property. Anyone can use our free online calculator to see what their own roof could do before speaking to a single person, and if they do go on to speak to one of our team, we'll tell them straight if solar isn't worth it for their home."
Councillor Unsworth continued, "While solar power won't be the right option for everyone, there are plenty of other ways residents can play their part in creating a greener South Ribble.
“We have funded the Five Dinners scheme to support in reducing food waste and to help save money on groceries and have introduced free water refill stations across the borough to support with the reduction of single-use plastics. We also have lots of information on our website about how you can make simple changes in the home to save energy and reduce bills.”
The Five Dinners free recipe tool, the full suite of climate change initiatives and how you can save money in the home and reduce energy costs, can be found at www.southribble.gov.uk/climatechange.