TRANSITION Tavistock is working with the Energy Saving Trust, RegenSW, local authorities and other community groups across South West Devon in an Energy Savers programme to raise awareness of ways in which households can reduce their energy bills.

These include improving the thermal efficiency of the home through draught reduction, insulation, improving heating and appliance efficiency and changes in behaviour.

The major energy companies have been in the limelight recently regarding price rises and lobbying the Government to reform the green levies contributing to these rises. Transition Tavistock has highlighted that the major contributing factor to price rises are wholesale costs and not green levies. However, to date only two energy firms have passed the savings on.

Transition Tavistock has said that according to the Energy Saving Trust, just by turning off appliances when not in use, DIY draught proofing or by being careful when using kitchen appliances, could save each household in excess of £50 a year.

Across the Tavistock area, the Energy Savers programme is starting on January 18 and 19 with an open homes event. Fifteen householders will provide a chance to look at what they've done, or are doing, to reduce their energy costs. There is a mixture of new build, renovations and retrofit, and a mixture of low and high cost solutions.

The open homes programme may be downloaded from Saturday, January 11 at http://www.transitiontavistock.org.uk">www.transitiontavistock.org.uk

The group will also be in Bedford Square, Tavistock at the Farmer's Market distributing copies of the programme, answering any questions and taking bookings for the bus tours around the properties.

On Saturday, January 25, there is an Energy Savers Fair at Tavistock College where you can talk to various organisations about reducing or generating energy, and take part in a number of practical workshops.