A young mum has become the first person to take part in a new energy-saving scheme which should cut bills for Bicester households.
Katy Gomarsall, 26, of Churchill Road, became the first resident to have a Green Deal assessment at the home she shares with partner Craig Smith, 29, and seven-month-old daughter Penny.
Residents are being invited to sign up for an assessment suggesting ways to make their homes more energy-efficient. The scheme is run by Cherwell District Council (CDC) in partnership with the environmental charity Bioregional.
Miss Gomarsall said: “My boiler has broken so this assessment came at just the right time to see what I can do.
“For someone like me who needs something doing to bring the costs down and doesn’t really know where to go, this really did help.”
Residents are invited to sign up for assessments, which usually cost about £100, before deciding whether to take up any of the Green Deal recommendations or not.
Suggestions may include a new high-efficiency boiler, replacement windows, insulation or even rooftop solar panels.
CDC is offering 100 free assessments on a first-come-first-served basis.
Ten lucky households will get full Green Deal packages – worth several thousand pounds – installed free-of-charge.
Small businesses can also sign up for Green Deal assessments.
The offer is open to homes and businesses within the Bicester ringroad.
Assessments take about two hours to complete.
The council is hoping to complete the 100 free home assessments in coming weeks, and install the first five free Green Deal packages by the end of March.
To register, email bicestergreendeal@cherwell-dc.gov.uk, or contact the council on 01295 221644.