Bringing Warmth and Comfort to Deborah’s Home

Deborah Collinson from Kensington is feeling the benefits of a cosy home after more than 35 years of struggling to keep warm during the winter months.

Since moving into her two-bedroom terrace in 1990, Deborah, who is retired, has had to rely on just a gas fire in the living room and an electric blanket in the bedroom to keep warm, making daily life uncomfortable. The rest of the house always felt cold, especially during the winter, so she was reluctant to invite friends and family over to visit.

“I used to dread winter,” said Deborah. “I’d spend most of the day in the one warm room with the fire on for a few hours at a time, but the rest of the house was freezing. I’d never had central heating, so I just put up with it.”

She had no insulation at all, which meant she was losing a lot of the heat she did manage to generate through the roof. Her hot water came from an old, inefficient tank that was too expensive to run. To save on energy bills, she boiled a kettle to wash the dishes and often skipped using hot water altogether.

By chance, Deborah was visiting her sister in Bootle when one of our representatives knocked on the door to explain how Gaia Energy is helping households across Merseyside to benefit from free home energy efficiency improvements under the ECO4 Scheme.

At first, Deborah didn’t think she would qualify as she wasn’t receiving any benefits other than a state pension, but after a quick eligibility check, she was surprised to find out she did. This meant she was able to have central heating with an energy efficient boiler installed, completely free of charge. During an assessment of her home, our team also recommended installing loft insulation to help retain heat, as well as extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of damp and mould. The full package was carried out under the ECO4 Scheme, at no cost to Deborah, with the entire installation process taking just two days.

“I couldn’t believe how quickly the work was completed,” said Deborah. “The young men who came to do the work were lovely and they did an excellent job. I didn’t even have a hatch in the loft when they came out, so they put one in for me. They also took great care not to damage any of my bathroom tiles when the extractor fan was being installed. They really did go above and beyond to make sure they didn’t cause any disruption, and they even cleaned up before leaving. I can’t thank Gaia Energy enough, everyone I’ve spoken to at the company has been really helpful and professional, I would recommend them to anyone.”

The difference in Deborah’s home was immediate. Her entire house feels warm for the first time in years, and she no longer has to rely on a kettle for basic washing. Her energy bills have also dropped significantly.

“I can’t believe the difference, it feels like a new house,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about which room to sit in anymore, and it stays warm all night, even after the heating goes off.”

She added: “I feel so lucky to have a warm and cosy with home, with hot water from the tap after all these years. I can’t believe it didn’t cost me a penny. I’ve been telling everybody about it, I’ve told my friends, neighbours and even my hairdresser to check whether they qualify for a grant. I really do feel like I’ve won the jackpot!”

Gaia Energy’s Managing Director, Liam Gray, said: “This project is a clear example of how targeted energy efficiency improvement work can transform lives, not just homes, particularly for older residents. People like Deborah deserve to live in home that is warm and has easy access to hot water, without worrying about the cost. Installing central heating and improving insulation isn’t just about comfort, it’s about restoring quality of life.”