THE Bishop’s Castle-based Household Energy Service is putting the finishing touches to plans to spend more than £300,000.

Earlier this year, the group, which supports the efficient use of energy in the border towns and villages, won the money in a national competition, NESTA’s Big Green Challenge.

Founded five years ago, it has nine full and part-time staff as well as a small army of around 50 volunteers advising people how to cut their energy bills and help the environment.

They estimate that by using the service, people are cutting their carbon emissions by up to 30 per cent and shaving almost £400 a year from their fuel bills.

Although they are based in Bishop’s Castle, the service operates as far south as Ludlow and in towns like Cleobur y Mortimer, Clun and over the border into Wales.

After winning the award, the service is now putting the final touches to a business plan that will see a series of innovations.

These will include a mobile service undertaking small but highly effective work such as fitting draft excluders to doors and windows.

Another scheme being examined is the purchase of woodland that will be used to grow trees that can be harvested in a sustainable way to provide fuel for burning.

“We are looking at community involvement so that people in the area might have part ownership of the woodland to secure their energy supply into the future,” said spokesman Rachel Francis.

Until now, most of the activity has been aimed at making homes more efficient but in the future it is intended to launch a project that will help farmers in the area.