Hovingham community group Project Purple is to host a free home energy advice clinic next week.

This pop up event will take place at Hovingham’s Repair Café & Community Hub on Saturday, March 11 with local business Watermark (Malton).

Watermark Malton, who have offered their services free of charge, are renewable home heating and climate control solutions specialists and their partners include Daikin, MSS and Next Gen Energy (heat pumps). The clinic will be of interest to householders considering alternative renewable heating solutions and the installation of solar panels for their homes.

Community Hub organiser Frank Colenso said: “Retrofitting older homes needs thought and the right solutions from survey, design to commissioning. The idea with this drop in is to give residents the opportunity to discuss potential heating solutions with experts in an informal environment.

"With heating costs going up and more than 75% of Hovingham residents using oil and other non renewable heating today, it's the right time to consider alternatives that are cheaper to run with environmental benefits too.”

“As well as the experts, we will have a mobile showroom on site, so there will also be the opportunity to look, feel and touch boilers and air source heat pumps so you can size up a potential project. You are more than likely be eligible for the Government's £5,000 boiler upgrade scheme.

With electricity prices rocketing, there’s never been a better time to generate your own electricity. We'll have a local expert who can help you consider the options to install your own solar system.”

Alongside the free advice clinic, Hovingham’s fixers will be on hand to repair items to save needless waste.

Expertise includes carpentry, electrical, computers, tech, games, sewing, knitting, garden, clocks, toys, gadgets and more.

Last year Hovingham’s Repair Café restored 50 items from teddy bear with a broken leg to stabilising a family heirloom rocking chair. 40 Morsbags were made and 30 pet beds all using unwanted fabric.

With Spring around the corner, there’s the opportunity to find out about the tools and equipment available from the Share Shed and the themes from the thermal imaging home inspections that have taken place during the colder months. Electric vehicles will also be available to view adjacent to the EV charger.

To find out more, email projectpurple@hovingham.org,uk or call into the Hovingham Village Hall on Saturday, March, 11any time between 10am to 12noon.