A new team of 'green doctors' start work this month to help residents in Brixton cut their carbon emissions and energy bills.

The five new recruits will visit hundreds of Brixton homes helping to install free energy efficient measures like draught proofing and radiator panels.

Employed by Lambeth Council, they will knock on doors giving one to one advice to householders on how to cut gas and electricity costs. They will also run 'energy clinics' where residents can have their energy waste problems diagnosed.

The five 'green doctors' have all recently been unemployed. The scheme has given them vital new skills, helped them back into work and created much needed jobs in the local economy. They have undergone intensive training to equip them with the knowledge and skills for the job including City and Guilds energy assessor training and training on draught proofing.

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All five are from south London with four hailing from Lambeth. They are Steven Christoforou, Thomas Baldwin, Hayley Gilhooley, Gerard Lacey and George Pabi.

The scheme is part of the new Brixton low carbon zone – an area covering around 700 residential and commercial buildings where cutting carbon and energy bills is at the top of the agenda. Lambeth Council made a bid to the Mayor of London to be part of the scheme and the Mayor announced in September that the bid was successful, committing £300,000 of funding over three years.

Councillor Lorna Campbell, Lambeth Council's Cabinet Member elect for Environment, said: "The new 'green doctors' will help some of Lambeth's least well off residents. They will help cut people’s fuel consumption by making their homes more energy efficient, saving them money - something that is vital for families on low incomes.

"I'd like to welcome our new recruits and I know they are going to do a tremendous job. Hundreds of homes will become more energy efficient as a result of their work over the next few months. The Brixton low carbon zone is about tackling so called 'fuel poverty' and making Brixton a flagship low carbon area."

(CD/GK)