New services from the Energy Saving Trust

November 2008's update on the Energy Saving Trust's new services coincides with the first anniversary of the announcement of `Green Homes' and six month anniversary of the Energy Saving Trust's `Act on CO2' advice line going live.

The rollout of our network of advice centres

The roll-out of the network of Energy Saving Trust advice centres and Energy Saving Scotland advice centres is now complete - with 21 new advice centres in place across the UK, offering people advice on a range of `green' issues including energy saving, microgeneration, `greener' transport choices and in some cases waste reduction advice. All advice centres will be fully operational by December

Extension of our Home Energy Check

Work is progressing on improving and expanding our `Home Energy Check' to include a broader range of advice including waste, transport and microgeneration. Research and consumer feedback identified four main benefits of the Home Energy Check for customers: it can help them save money on their fuel bills, it is impartial, it is free and they can call up the advice line to talk through recommendations. The new HEC questionnaire and report will focus on highlighting these aspects to consumers.

Integration of waste advice

Over the last six months we have been running waste pilots, testing the inclusion of waste into our advice offering. Our activity in this area has been developed in partnership with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and has centred on three areas; food waste, home composting and recycling. Four pilots ran during June to September in London, Wales, North-East and Northern Ireland. With early positive results including advising over 10,000 consumers on waste between June and October and early indications showing that waste is a natural fit to the energy advice service, waste advice will be rolled out by the end of 2008 to some of the remaining advice centres. An evaluation of the original four pilots will be completed by the end of the financial year.

Integration of water advice
Latest news: We're proud to announce that the Energy Saving Trust and Waterwise's joint proposal for EU Life+ funding to pilot a water advice service, was successfully approved and received very positive feedback. The main focus of the bid is to develop integrated energy and water saving advice, to be piloted in three urban areas - London, Edinburgh and Cardiff over a three year period from January 2009. This is a major achievement for the Energy Saving Trust and work undertaken through the bid will be used as a template for future activity in Europe.

Piloting of the Energy Saving Trust Home Action Plan
Phase two of the `Home Action Plan' pilot went live on the 24th November! The Home Action Plan is a tailor-made, in-home service available for £99 in Buckinghamshire, East Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes. It has been designed to help homeowners save money on their household bills and reduce their impact on the environment.

The service consists of:

• An in-depth environmental audit of your home and household
• A face to face consultation with a professional and accredited Home Advisor
• A detailed report and action plan containing tailor-made, practical recommendations on how to:

- Reduce your energy consumption

- Conserve water

- Reduce waste and recycle more efficiently

- Cut down your emissions from transport

• A review of your home's potential for installation of renewable energy technologies
• Ongoing impartial advice and support to help you implement the actions
• An official Energy Performance Certificate - worth around £100

The first phase of the pilot was well received with over forty households and two community groups taking part. The second phase of the pilot has greater marketing support and an improved report and aims to deliver over 160 Home Action Plans.

• To download a copy of the information leaflet click here.
• For further information or to book a Home Action Plan please email homeactionplan@est.org.uk, or call our dedicated helpline on 0800 731 4564

Signposting to green finance providers
The Energy Saving Trust has begun to signpost customers to green financial products and services on their website and is undergoing a large piece of research to establish the needs of the consumer in this area. The Energy Saving Trust aims to stimulate the take up of energy saving measures by working in collaboration with financial providers with the creation of schemes specifically aimed at financing low carbon improvements. Our aim is to make it simpler and easier for households to make improvements to their property that reduce energy bills and cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions.

Targeted advice to homeowners

Consultation with the Department of Communities and Local Government, to secure access to the domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) register, continues and we hope for positive news shortly. The Energy Saving Trust intend to use EPC data to give detailed advice to householders in England and Wales particularly targeting those with a low EPC rating on how to improve their home's energy efficiency and reduce running costs.