‘Game-changing’ one-stop shop will help county’s homeowners save around £1800 per year on their energy bills making them warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Gloucestershire’s six district and borough councils have announced plans to create a greener, more sustainable future with the launch of a comprehensive One Stop Shop service with energy efficiency partners, Furbnow. The service which is now live aims to make it easier than ever before for residents to improve their homes’ energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
The partnership, which covers Cheltenham Borough, Cotswold District, Forest of Dean District, Gloucester City, Stroud District, and Tewkesbury Borough, aims to simplify the process of home energy improvements for Gloucestershire residents while ensuring high-quality installations and expert guidance throughout. The new service offers residents a chance to make energy bill savings of around £1800 per year and a complete solution for planning and delivering energy efficiency projects, from initial survey through to installation. Homeowners can expect professional surveys, tailored advice, access to vetted installers, and end-to-end project management.
Councillor Mike McKeown, chair of Climate Leadership Gloucestershire, said: This partnership is a game-changer for Gloucestershire residents, making it easier to improve home energy efficiency through expert advice, vetted installers, and comprehensive project management. It aligns with our county’s ambition to lead on climate action and builds on the success of our Warm and Well program.
“Importantly, this initiative will also create local jobs and support local businesses carrying out the work, strengthening our economy while helping residents reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. Together, we can create a greener, more sustainable future.”
Becky Lane, energy efficiency expert and CEO of Furbnow, said: “Many homeowners want to make their homes more energy efficient but find the process overwhelming. Our partnership with Gloucestershire’s councils allows us to provide residents with independent, expert guidance and trusted installers, making home energy improvements accessible and stress-free. We’re excited to help Gloucestershire residents create warmer, more environmentally-friendly homes while potentially saving up to half off their annual energy bills.”
Typical improvements include energy-efficient windows and doors, heat pumps, solar panels, and enhanced ventilation systems. These improvements work together to keep homes warm in winter and cooler in summer while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
A homeowner’s view:
One homeowner who has been through the process without specialist advice says this one stop shop would have saved her time and stress. Sue Gorman who is 61 years old and is the Retrofit Engagement Officer for Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “When myself and my husband decided to make our 1970s bungalow (and our lives) completely energy efficient in 2022, it was a painful process. At that time, architects weren’t interested in smaller projects, our builder didn’t see the value for his business and we struggled to integrate renewables into the process. What we lacked was one single project view, i.e. a complete retrofit plan to give us complete visibility of our options.”
She continued: “For someone who’s lived through the lows and ultimate highs of a complete retrofit (we benefited from over £1800 of energy savings in 2024 alone thanks to our solar PV and battery storage), the Furbnow service would have been ideal. Not only do they provide a clear plan of action written in a way that’s easy to understand, they can plug into an existing project or provide end-to-end project management including supplier sourcing. Personally I feel this is the missing link. So many people are put off making energy efficient changes to their home because it is too costly or complicated but this one-stop shop will help people unlock their home’s potential, future proofing it and providing huge savings.”
All Districts have identified the need to act on and reduce domestic carbon emissions from all types of homes in the county within their climate plans. Some districts have set a target to be net zero district-wide by 2045, with many aiming for 2030, and this project will assist in reducing the quarter of the county’s emissions which come from domestic properties.
Furbnow’s expertise extends to all property types, including Gloucestershire’s wealth of listed buildings and heritage properties, where special consideration is needed for energy improvements. Typical measures can include sympathetic insulation solutions for historic walls, lofts, and floors; carefully specified heating system upgrades; and improved draft-proofing that preserves period features.
The service follows a simple three-stage process:
- Home Energy Plan – Professional survey and tailored roadmap. This is dependent on the size and type of home, but on average these cost between £600 and £850.
- Installer Selection – Project specification, design and tender
- Project Delivery – End-to-end installation management and quality assurance
As part of the service, Furbnow helps residents explore available funding options through the Centre for Energy Equality’s Fairer Warmth app, which identifies potential grants and support schemes. The company will also work closely with Warm & Well, Gloucestershire’s established advice and grant program, ensuring qualifying homeowners can access all available financial support for their energy improvements.
One of the aims of the programme is to foster a network of local suppliers, supporting them to join the Furbnow network, maximising the local economic benefit of improving the efficiency of the county’s homes.
Homeowners can benefit from:
- Independent, expert advice on all improvement options
- Access to pre-vetted installers, using the local supply chain as far as possible
- Professional project management
- Quality assurance throughout the process
- Potential energy bill savings
- Reduced carbon emissions
The initiative supports Gloucestershire’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and improving housing energy efficiency across the county. Residents can access the service through their local council or directly through Furbnow.
For more information:
Website: furbnow.com/gloucestershire
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0330 165 6147
About Furbnow
Furbnow is the complete solution for planning and delivering home energy efficiency projects. As an independent expert, they ensure homeowners plan and deliver their home energy improvements right, first time. Their services include professional home surveys, expert advice, detailed planning, vetted installer selection, and project management.
Media contact:
Phoebe Heseltine
[email protected]
0330 165 6147
