RESIDENTS throughout Maldon district have been reminded that they can take advantage of government grants from yesterday (Wednesday) until March to help make their homes low carbon and more energy efficient.

The Green Homes Grant scheme can provide up to £5,000 per home for improvements such as cavity wall or loft insulation, upgrading windows or replacing old boilers with a heat pump. It has been calculated that these improvements could save the average household as much as £600 per year.

Essex County Council's Climate Action Commission has reminded residents that these improvements could not only save them money, but help save the environment, too.

Lord Randall, chair of the commission, said: "Tackling climate change in the county cannot be done by a single organisation – the public sector, the private sector and Essex residents – we all have our part to play."

Residents can find all the information they need to apply for the grants at the Simple Energy Advice website here.

The Essex Climate Action Commission will make its full set of recommendations on a range of matters - transport, energy, waste, land use, green infrastructure and the built environment - to Essex County Council cabinet for consideration by the end of March 2021.