Where do I start?

The videos below were filmed at a free Home Energy Workshop run by Zero Chippenham. They offer good independent information on how to make your home more energy efficient, keep it warm, and save money on bills. Thank you to Wessex Water Community Connectors for funding our Home Energy project.

Whilst some of these improvements might look expensive, don’t despair if you have no money to make improvements, we’ll explore low cost options and free help and grants available in later sections.

I’d like to explore options to improve my home?

Perhaps you’re not in immediate need, but want to start your journey to making your home more energy efficient and reduce your bills. Perhaps you’re conscious of Climate change and want to reduce your carbon footprint. Fortunately the two go hand in hand.

One simple and Free next step you could take is to borrow one of our four thermal cameras. These are a great way to visualise where your home is losing heat. With our thermal camera loan you’ll also get a short introductory home renovation guide.

I borrowed your thermal camera, what next?

There are a couple of different routes you could go next.

• Simple low cost measures e.g. more loft insulation, a Chimney Sheep
• More complex retrofits e.g. Wall insulation, heat pumps, solar

If you want to go the more in depth route a professional survey of your home could be your next step. Wiltshire Council have partnered with the Centre for Sustainable Energy for their Future Proof Project. This offers a FREE detailed energy survey of your home and retrofit report guiding you on the next steps of your retrofit journey. 

I want to start simply, what can I do?

We have some simple tips and energy saving measure below as a starting point.

Do you have a Chimney? If so have you considered a Chimney Draft Excluder or Chimney Sheep? Read about our Chimney Sheep offer below.

I want to dig deeper into retrofits?

So you want to dive a bit deeper into more complex retrofits. Some of these may cost more, but there are lots of grants and routes to finance which are changing all the time.

We’ll start with some of the more complex case studies put together by Zero Chippenham members with contributions from Chippenham residents.

Can I visit a Heat Pump or a house that has done retrofits?

There are several opportunities to do this.

Green Open Homes Events are run across Wiltshire and Swindon each year. Some homes offer visits all year round.

The charity Nesta run a Visit a Heat Pump Scheme where you can find a host in the Chippenham area

Or contact Zero Chippenham with the home retrofit you’re interested in and we can arrange a WhatsApp call or visit with a Zero Chippenham member to tell you about their experience

I’m quite interested in Solar Panels – Can you help?

Yes, we have a Community Solar discount scheme!