Washingpool Farm in Bridport is among 500 local organisation and businesses to benefit from grants to help it reduce energy costs and tackle rising costs.

Hot on the heels of The Big Green Week, a national campaign celebrating climate action, Dorset Council has published a draft report which looks at the progress it is making towards its climate and nature goals.

One achievement highlighted in the report is the continuation of the council's two flagship energy-saving programmes, Healthy Homes Dorset and Low Carbon Dorset.

These programmes, which are a central part of the council's plan to tackle emissions in the county, have now secured extra funding, and residents, organisations and businesses across the Dorset Council area will continue to get help to save energy in their homes and buildings.

Delivered in partnership with Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council, Public Health Dorset and Ridgewater Energy, the Healthy Homes Dorset programme gives free energy advice, and helps homeowners and tenants in Dorset install wall and loft insulation and fit low-energy heating systems. Last year over 600 homes in Dorset benefitted from the support and the energy savings it brings.

Support from the Low Carbon Dorset programme, on the other hand, is aimed at helping organisations rather than households. Through this programme, community groups, charities, and businesses can get free advice and grants to help tackle emissions and rising energy costs.

More than 500 organisations in Dorset have already received support from Low Carbon Dorset to improve the efficiency of their buildings and install renewable energy systems.

One such local business is Washingpool Farm Shop, a family-run business based just outside of Bridport. Thanks to a grant from Low Carbon Dorset, this west Dorset farm was able to swap the open-fronted fridges in its shop for new door-fronted replacements. 

This simple efficiency measure has proven to be a game changer when it comes to electricity use, saving the farm shop thousands of pounds a year in energy costs.

Simon Holland, owner of Washingpool Farm Shop, said: "Upgrading the fridges in our shop was something we'd wanted to do for a while and the grant from Low Carbon Dorset made it achievable. The advice and guidance we were given from the team was amazing, really clear and personal."

Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: "At a time when energy and living costs are so high, support from programmes like Low Carbon Dorset and Healthy Homes Dorset is more valuable than ever. 

"I'm thrilled that we will now be able to help even more homes and organisations in Dorset save energy and money.

"These programmes will remain central in the council's efforts to boost renewables, decarbonise heating, and improve energy efficiency in Dorset. And will be vital if we are to meet our goal of becoming a carbon-neutral county by 2050."

New funding for the programmes comes from a mixture of government funds including the Shared Prosperity Fund, the replacement for old EU funding, the Home Upgrade Grant, the Rural England Prosperity Fund, and Dorset Council.

Residents looking to access support should visit the Healthy Homes Dorset website or freephone 0300 003 7023.

Organisations, including voluntary or community groups and businesses, can apply for support by visiting the Low Carbon Dorset website.

Read more about the steps Dorset Council is taking to protect the county's natural environment, climate and ecology in its draft Climate and Ecology Progress Report or by visiting the climate and ecology pages of its website: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/protecting-our-environment