“The house is already much warmer, we’ve seen a massive improvement” – Sally and Rachel’s story

As part of the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator programme, our team have been supporting residents in Manchester, Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham to save money through the installation of energy saving measures.

Sally and Rachel, aged 63 and 65, are retired sisters who have been struggling with their home in Gorton, dealing with cold, damp and an unreliable heating system. Rachel suffers with severe asthma, with the issues putting a strain on both her physical and mental health:

The boiler was coming on intermittently so hot water and heating wasn’t reliable. This really affects Rachel’s condition and the house was generally cold

After reaching out to our Green Doctors, Shammy visited the sisters and installed some small measures, including radiator foils and drought excluders. Whilst there, Shammy also supported the sisters to apply for free energy saving measures through the LEAD programme, knowing that they would be eligible due to Rachel’s health condition.

Once approved, their home was fitted with internal wall insulation, solar panels, a heat pump, a new boiler and extractor fans. Shammy provided support and guidance, filling the gaps between the existing providers and new installers to ensure Sally and Rachel understood how their new system worked and how to maintain it going forward.

Shammy explained how the heat pump worked on her visit after the install. It was messy and there was upheaval but it was worth it

Sally and Rachel have already seen huge improvements to the temperature of their home. They’re looking forward to seeing how much they can save on their bills with the upgraded heating system:

We are really happy with our install and have recommended Shammy and Groundwork to many friends and family. The house is already much warmer

*names have been changed to protect their identities