Your opportunity to train as a volunteer community energy champion

East Lindsey District Council is hosting a free training opportunity for residents interested in becoming a source of information on energy advice and signposting within their local community.

National Energy Action will be delivery a three-day training course from 21^st - 23^rd January with an additional exam day taking place on 30^th January at the Council's offices at The Hub, Horncastle. The course is free to anyone wishing to attend, thanks to funding from National Gas.

The Level 3 Award in Energy Awareness explores a breadth of topics related to the energy sector, including energy-saving methods. It will provide the knowledge and skills required to deliver practical and impactful advice to households. More than 26,000 people have already undertaken the course over a period of 30 years.

Building on from the work of the Council's in-house Home Energy Advice and Retrofit Team, ELDC is keen to build a network of local volunteers that can support residents in their local community to find sources of advice and information to help them live warmer and more energy efficiently in their homes.

The training is designed to:

• Explain fuel poverty and the associated health issues
• Identify a range of heating and hot water systems and appliances found in homes
• Outline the efficient and safe use of heating and hot water systems and appliances
• Identify the type and function of controls on heating and hot water systems
• Calculate electricity running costs
• Interpret energy labels
• Identify a range of gas and electricity meters and understand the importance of taking accurate readings
• Explain how to calculate electricity and gas costs
• Analyse domestic fuel cost data using reference materials
• Examine ways of paying for fuel and sources of fuel debt advice
• Identify the basic principles of how domestic renewable technologies work
• Identify two methods of measuring the energy efficiency of a dwelling
• Investigate heat loss in a range of dwellings and identify insulation measures that can be used to tackle it
• Outline the grant aid and assistance available for domestic energy efficiency measures
• Explore the causes of condensation and identify possible solutions

Councillor Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Leisure and Culture, and Carbon Reduction at East Lindsey District Council, said: "I am delighted that this training opportunity is free and available for residents of East Lindsey, who have a vested interest in improving the energy efficiency of the local community.

"By training to become a local energy champion, you will be helping people in your community to live with advice and information on how they can be more comfortable in their homes, reduce carbon and have cheaper energy bills.

"The training is comprehensive and covers a very broad range of skills, so I encourage anyone who is interested in this volunteering opportunity to register their interest soon with the council."

If you would like to attend and are interested in becoming a volunteer energy champion or would like more information, please contact heart@e-lindsey.gov.uk by Monday 16 December.

For further information on the course content and format, please visit this website.