A new series of loans and grants are on offer to help people cut their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Improvements available under a county-wide scheme launched last week include cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, boiler replacement and external wall insulation, as well as the installation of renewable energy technologies.

The scheme, called Action on Energy Cambridgeshire, is designed to help people make their homes more energy efficient.

It makes use of the Government’s Green Deal and Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) measures and has the backing of all the county’s local authorities, including Fenland District Council.

The improvements are on offer to all residents, whatever their circumstances.

Financial help enables householders to get a loan to help pay for them.

People who are on a range of qualifying benefits may be able to upgrade their heating at no or reduced cost through ECO grants.

Qualified energy assessors will advise homeowners which measures would be appropriate for their homes and how these can be financed.

The councils will be working with one preferred Green Deal provider - Climate Energy, a leading energy efficiency company.

Most of the work coming from the scheme will also provide opportunities for locally based small businesses - suppliers, tradespeople and installers - to become involved.

Climate Energy has secured £45 million from the energy companies for ECO grants in this region over the next three years.

Councillor Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “As we all know, more and more people are struggling with rising energy bills – particularly the elderly, the vulnerable and those on low incomes.

“That makes the launch of this scheme particularly timely. Not only does it offer residents practical help to cut the costs of keeping their homes warm; it also gives local businesses the opportunity to gain extra work, with the potential for creating more jobs and developing new skills.”

For more information on the scheme or to book your home energy assessment, visit actiononenergy.net or call 0800 0933303.

If you are a local installer and are interested in becoming Green Deal certified, call Isabel Edgington, Fenland District Council’s senior environmental projects officer, on 01354 654321 or email iedgington@fenland.gov.uk