Alton Climate Action Network
Altonians are taking advantage of free advice specific to their home and circumstances about saving money on their energy bills and other ideas for sustainable living.
The greater visibility of community group Energy Alton’s advice through the Energy Advice and Eco Café “shop-front” in Market Square has resulted in the number of home energy surveys undertaken by their knowledgeable volunteers more than doubling since the Café opened in September 2022.
An honest, impartial service
Energy Alton are receiving some wonderful feedback from users.
Ken lives in Alton and had read about the Energy Advice and Eco Cafe in the Alton Herald. He had already made some energy efficiency improvements to his home and wanted to find out what else he could do, saying “I wanted to make sure that we were heading in the right direction.” He also wanted to arrange a thermal imaging survey of his house, to find out where heat might be escaping. As his house was built in the 19th century, any improvements had to be sympathetic to the traditional way in which it had been constructed. Ken said, “talking to Tony in the Cafe was very useful and interesting. The information I was given about secondary glazing was very helpful.”
Ken said that he would be very happy to recommend the Energy Advice and Eco Café to other people, and is now looking to further reduce the heat lost from his home by insulating under his suspended wooden floor.
Another Café visitor, John, was pleased with the approach taken by the volunteer advisor, saying “the ethos was so different from a commercial organisation. I felt completely non-pressured and was pleased that the conversation didn’t lead on to any attempt to sell me anything”.
He also appreciated the honesty of the adviser, adding “what was lovely, was that the adviser was open that he didn’t have all the answers. But he did give me useful, unbiased advice that enabled me to move on with what I was doing.”
Recycling and more
But the Café is not only for energy advice. Local people are very keen to be able to recycle more plastic, and the Café now has three Terracycle bins where people can take plastic bread and savoury biscuit wrappers, and plastic confectionery packaging, amongst other things.
Volunteers love to chat about all aspects of sustainable living at any time. A specific “Cuppa for the Climate” opportunity is held monthly every 2nd Thursday at 2 pm.
A partnership between Alton Climate Action Network (ACAN), Energy Alton and Alton Town Council, the Energy Advice and Eco-Café is at 16 Market Square and is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 12.00 pm. Advice is available by appointment outside of opening times – contact energyalton@gmail.com or 07811 462659.