RESIDENTS of the Torridge District are being urged to sign up to a scheme aimed at helping homeowners, social housing tenants and landlords to reduce their energy consumption and bills.

Out of just over 1,000 enquiries to the Devon-wide ECO scheme run by Cosy Devon on behalf of the county's local authorities, only 10% are from North Devon and Torridge.

The Cosy Devon scheme is open to homeowners, social housing tenants and landlords and can offer a number of energy saving products that could save around £600 a year.

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve has carried out research on domestic heating and lighting for Torridge and North Devon. The biosphere is the first new-style UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the UK with core functions of conservation, learning and sustainable development and three different management zones.

The reason for this low demand is unclear given that a 2014 study by the North Devon Biosphere shows that about £80-million is spent on domestic heating and lighting each year in Torridge and North Devon. It also shows that a third of all the houses have inadequate loft insulation and nearly one in ten has uninsulated cavity walls.

Andy Bell, manager of North Devon's World Biosphere, said: 'All of North Devon and Torridge is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The status recognises our world class environment but challenges us to take a sustainable approach to development including energy use and production.

'Reducing energy use is kind to people's pockets but also kind to the environment because it reduces the amount of climate warming gasses we produce and saves vital natural resources. The Biosphere should be the place where these schemes are taken up most and I urge people to do so.'

The Cosy Devon scheme is open to people from across the county. To find out if you're eligible and to discuss how the scheme can help you get a warmer and more comfortable home visit http://www.cosydevon.com">www.cosydevon.com or all 0800 0511 548.