Sustainable Sawbridgeworth and town council Energy Hub will give tips to residents on saving energy and cutting costs

Sawbridgeworth residents can save money on energy bills and learn about grants for DIY while creating a more comfortable home and reducing their carbon footprint by visiting the town’s dedicated Energy Hub in Bell Street later this month.

Sustainable Sawbridgeworth volunteers and town councillors will be on hand to talk through ideas, signpost residents to further guidance and offer their own insights into saving energy.

The Energy Hub series, jointly funded by the town and district councils, has been running for the past year at events and pop-up stalls in the town.

Depending on home type, residents are offered suggestions for best fit options covering efficient energy use, from sealing drafts, fitting LED light bulbs and insulation through to installing air source heat pumps and solar panels.

Sustainable Sawbridgeworth volunteers, who are all local residents, are able to pass on their own experiences. One has recently fitted solar panels using an East Herts Council grant to help with costs, while another has been through the process of getting quotes and installing an air source heat pump.

In January, the group’s youngest member, Elena, ran a survey on what is most important to residents. Saving money on bills and reducing climate impact came out tops. Elena did a fantastic job of asking the questions and getting the community engaged.

“We are very excited to be running the Energy Hub again on Saturday March 29,” said Cllr Annelise Furnace, the town council’s eco representative.

“The beauty of these hubs is the resident-to-resident contact. People living in the town can get direct advice from their fellow residents and neighbours about the range of actions we can take to cut energy bills and reduce our carbon footprint.”

Slots for the hub on March 29 can be booked on Eventbrite from 9am to 1pm. Drop-ins will also be available on the day. See the town council website and Sustainable Sawbridgeworth Facebook page for further details.