Get winter ready with the Warm Homes Fund

With temperatures dropping, Neath Port Talbot Council is calling on eligible households to apply for a free first time central heating system in readiness for the winter months.

The Warm Homes Fund, which was established by National Grid in 2017, funds the installation of affordable central heating systems and energy saving measures for eligible households who are spending too much money on fuel bills so could be considered to be in fuel poverty.

Miss Badder, a local resident in the Neath valley, recently had a new oil central heating system fitted through the fund. This included an oil combi boiler, oil tank, radiators, wireless remote thermostat, wireless remote oil tank level indicator and carbon monoxide detector.

Miss Badder said:

“We received a letter from the council about the Warm Homes Fund, but we were sceptical that we would be approved, due to living in a terraced house and being a full time working mum.

“However, we quickly found out that this wasn’t a problem after having an initial consultation and being approved.

“The work was carried out quickly and we also had 100 litres of free fuel. We have worked out that we should potentially save ourselves £500 a year.

“I would urge anyone to take up this initiative and we cannot believe we didn’t do this sooner as our house is much warmer now than it ever was”.

The fund can help to reduce the energy bills of eligible homeowners by up to 30%, and can even result in health benefits through living in a properly heated home, helping to avoid cold related illnesses. The aim is to target households with the lowest energy efficiency ratings.

Angela Thomas, Head of Adult Services, said:

“We believe that everyone deserves to live in a warm home and we are delighted to have received this funding from the Warm Homes Fund.”

“It will not only help residents to reduce their fuel bills, but it will reduce the likelihood of health related issues brought on by living in a cold, damp home. I would urge anyone who thinks they might be eligible to receive support to get in touch.”

The Warm Homes Fund isn’t just for homeowners; private landlords can get up to 75% off first time central heating systems to help tenants reduce their energy bills.

The fund has been established by National Grid and is administered by a community interest company called Affordable Warmth Solutions. Neath Port Talbot Council is responsible for the application process, liaising with homeowners about the work and appointing approved contractors.

If you express an interest and are eligible for the grant, the Council’s Housing Renewals Team will visit you to go through your options.

To find out more information and to apply for the Warm Homes Fund, visit www.npt.gov.uk/warmhomesfund . Alternatively, contact the Housing Renewal Team on 01639 686502 or email renewalarea@npt.gov.uk .

Paratowch at y gaeaf gyda’r Gronfa Cartrefi Cynnes

Gyda thymereddau’n gostwng, mae Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn galw ar aelwydydd cymwys i gyflwyno cais am system gwres canolog sydd ar gael am ddim am y tro cyntaf er mwyn paratoi ar gyfer misoedd y gaeaf.

Defnyddir y Gronfa Cartrefi Cynnes, a sefydlwyd gan y Grid Cenedlaethol yn 2017, i dalu am y gwaith i osod systemau gwres canolig fforddiadwy a mesurau arbed ynni mewn aelwydydd cymwys sy’n gwario gormod ar filiau tanwydd, ac felly mae’n bosib ystyried eu bod nhw’n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd.

Mae Miss Badder, preswylydd lleol yng Nghwm Nedd, wedi cael system gwres canolog olew newydd ac am ddim yn ddiweddar diolch i’r gronfa. Roedd hyn yn cynnwys boeler cyfunol, tanc olew, gwresogyddion, thermostat diwifr sy’n cael ei gweithredu gan declyn rheoli, dangosydd lefel olew wedi’i weithredu gan declyn rheoli a synhwyrydd carbon monocsid.

Meddai Miss Badder,

“Cawsom lythyr oddi wrth y cyngor yn trafod y Gronfa Cartrefi Cynnes, ond roeddem yn amheus y byddem yn cael ein cymeradwyo gan ein bod yn byw mewn tŷ teras, a gan fy mod i’n fam â swydd amser llawn.

“Fodd bynnag, cawsom wybod yn syth na fyddai unrhyw broblem – cawsom ein cymeradwyo yn dilyn yr ymgynghoriad cychwynnol.

“Gwnaed y gwaith yn brydlon, a chawsom 100 litr o danwydd am ddim hefyd. Mae’n ymddangos y gallwn arbed £500 y flwyddyn.

“Byddwn yn annog unrhyw un i fanteisio ar y fenter hon. Rydym yn difaru peidio â’i gwneud yn gynt gan fod ein tŷ yn fwy cynnes nawr nag erioed.”

Gall y gronfa helpu i leihau biliau ynni perchnogion cartrefi cymwys hyd at 30% a gall hyd yn oed arwain at fuddion iechyd drwy fyw mewn cartref sydd wedi’i wresogi’n iawn, gan helpu i osgoi salwch sy’n ymwneud ag oerfel.Y nod yw targedu aelwydydd â’r sgorau effeithlonrwydd ynni isaf.

Meddai Angela Thomas, Pennaeth y Gwasanaethau i Oedolion,

“Rydym o’r farn bod pawb yn haeddu byw mewn cartref cynnes ac rydym yn falch o dderbyn yr arian hwn gan y Gronfa Cartrefi Cynnes.”

“Yn ogystal â helpu i ostwng biliau tanwydd, bydd yn lleihau’r tebygolrwydd o broblemau iechyd a achosir o ganlyniad i fyw mewn cartref oer a llaith. Byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sy’n credu y gallai fod yn gymwys i gael cymorth i gysylltu â ni.”

Nid yw’r Gronfa Cartrefi Cynnes ar gael i berchnogion cartrefi yn unig; gall landlordiaid preifat gael hyd at 75% oddi ar bris eu systemau gwres canolog cyntaf er mwyn helpu tenantiaid i leihau eu biliau ynni.

Sefydlwyd y cynllun gan y Grid Cenedlaethol a fe’i gweinyddir gan y cwmni budd cymunedol, Affordable Warmth Solutions. Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot sy’n gyfrifol am y broses ymgeisio, trafod y gwaith â pherchnogion cartrefi a phenodi contractwyr cymeradwy.

Os oes gennych ddiddordeb yn y grant ac rydych chi’n gymwys ar ei gyfer, bydd Tîm Adnewyddu Tai’r cyngor yn ymweld â chi i drafod eich opsiynau.

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth ac i wneud cais am grant gan y Gronfa Cartrefi Cynnes, ewch i www.npt.gov.uk/warmhomesfund?lang=cy-gb. Fel arall, ffoniwch y Tîm Adnewyddu Tai ar 01639 686502 neu e-bostiwch renewalarea@npt.gov.uk.