Kirklees Warm Zone is a programme to tackle fuel poverty and climate change by providing practical energy efficiency support to householders. The Warm Zone brand was established by government in 2000 and has since helped over 500,000 homes.

In Kirklees we estimate that approximately 45,000 householders are in fuel poverty, which means they are unable to adequately heat their homes. The Warm Zone will offer help to every household in Kirklees to improve energy efficiency, and a range of other support services.

The Warm Zone will be coming to every single home in Kirklees and offering something for everyone whatever their circumstances. Installation of all energy efficiency measures will be dependant on a technical survey of the home.

The main aim is to provide warm, energy efficient homes. Warm Zone will be offering:

• Free cavity wall and loft insulation for all households
• Free low energy light bulbs to all
• Free improvements to heating systems (only for householders fulfilling set criteria for example they are in fuel poverty, on benefits or in hard to treat homes, and subject to funding)
• Competitive prices for replacement boilers and central heating for able to pay customers
• Lower prices for renewable technologies for customers who are able to pay customers

In addition to providing warmer, energy efficient homes, a range of other service providers are working in partnership to deliver support to the householders through:

• Benefits checks (through the Citizens Advice Bureau, Benefits and Revenue Service, Department of Works and Pensions and Kirklees Benefits and Advice Service working together)
• Fire safety checks from West Yorkshire Fire Service
• Support services for carers through Carers Gateway
• Water conservation advice from Yorkshire Water

Every Kirklees householder will receive a letter from Warm Zone including the marketing symbol, a gloved hand, before a doorstep assessor visits the home. We will make sure there is lots of publicity in your area before Warm Zone arrives.

There will be no cold calling from Warm Zone or its contractors.

The assessors will be well presented, trained representatives of Warm Zone who will carry photographic identification at all times, and wear distinctive badged red clothing. Vehicles will also display the Warm Zone logo.

West Yorkshire police are being kept informed of the Warm Zone activity by area.

Warm Zone will endeavour to support and provide appropriate service for all householders.

Reaching vulnerable householders with special needs is particularly important to the Warm Zone to help those most at risk of fuel poverty in Kirklees. Where necessary we will act through third parties such as carers, provide specific appointment times or use a password scheme. Where priority householders are identified (for health and fuel poverty reasons) via other agencies such as the Fire Service or Health Service, individual households will receive improvements outside of the ward order.

The key to the success of Warm Zone will be the community trust and awareness of the programme and recognition that the programme is the only officially backed initiative to provide affordable warmth and energy efficiency in Kirklees.

Support and involvement in promoting the Warm Zone programme will be extremely valuable for community confidence. Warm Zone will be in your community for a limited period of time before it moves on elsewhere.

Funding is being provided by Kirklees Council, Scottish Power, National Grid, the Regional Housing Board, Scottish Power Energy People Trust and British Gas Energy Trust. Ongoing funding bids will be made throughout the lifetime of the Warm Zone.

Warm Zone is working on a ward by ward, street by street approach so no home will be missed. Warm Zone will write to every home before we visit you, to let you know when we will be in your area. We will leave a self assessment form if we miss you.

Miller Pattison is currently our only insulation contractor carrying out work in Kirklees on behalf of the council under the Warm Zone programme.

Other contractors are still selling insulation in Kirklees and some companies that have nothing to do with Warm Zone may claim to work for Warm Zone or the council. Householders should check the identification badges of all personnel claiming to work on behalf of the Warm Zone.