Our aims
- To reduce energy use
- To make homes warmer
- To alleviate energy poverty
What we do
Reading Borough Council awarded a grant to Transition Town Reading in 2012 to fund the materials for a DraughtBusters project. That was the start of Reading DraughtBusters. Since then DraughtBusters has built up a team of experienced volunteers who have helped a lot of people with draughty homes and also given them advice on how to manage their heating systems and reduce their energy use.
DraughtBusters continues to provide practical help to people struggling to pay their heating bills because their homes are cold and draughty. You can read more about who we help below, but most homes could benefit from some additional draught proofing, and it is not hard to do. The average cost per home for the materials used by DraughtBusters is just £22 (we buy in bulk), this had risen to £25 by the end of 2017 and then by dealing directly with manufacturers managed to hold this cost to less than £30 as of 2022.
This website has been developed as a way of sharing what we have learnt as we’ve been DraughtBusting in houses around Reading, so that more people can take on DraughtBusting projects themselves.
During late 2021 and 2022 we helped set up groups in the towns surrounding Reading and are looking to start more groups in Reading itself.
Who DraughtBusters can help directly
The DraughtBusters draught proofing service targets those in most need; the priority groups are people living in energy poverty, families with young children, the elderly and people under debt management, we will help others too if they ask. Many are referred to DraughtBusters through the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Council’s Winter Watch scheme, local debt advice agencies, GPs, churches and charities. Others contact us directly, often because they’ve been told about us by someone who has previously been helped by DraughtBusters.
If you’d like to enquire about DraughtBusters helping you draught proof your home, just use the contact form to send us a message and we’ll get in touch with you.
During the visit the DraughtBusting team will first go round and look for any obvious areas for draughts, consult you about what needs to be done and then if you agree we will carry out the necessary draught proofing measures there and then. Before we leave we will give advice on other measures that can be taken. The visits generally last ninety minutes, and the cost of any materials is covered by us, our budget is sometimes topped up by donations from happy customers.
Becoming a DraughtBuster
Being a DraughtBuster is worthwhile, enjoyable and very satisfying. It helps people save both money and energy and does not require a lot of prior experience or high levels of skill. You will be working with others who have done it before, and you will quickly learn draught proofing skills that you can use in your own home as well as to help your friends and neighbours.
If you would like to join the team do get in touch
You can hear Tony sharing more on what Draught Busting is and ways to decrease heat loss in the home through draught proofing and insulation.