A COST-cutting Gwynedd energy warden has been given an award for helping householders save tens of thousands of pounds on their fuel bills.

Sandra Kargin attended a ceremony at the House of Commons to receive her award for her work with Grwp Cynefin housing association.

Just over two years ago, Sandra, from Caernarfon, was unemployed before she was taken on by Grwp Cynefin to give energy-saving advice to those on benefits in Gwynedd.

Sandra, who has a daughter, a son and four-year-old grandson, is passionate about helping people cut their energy bills and, in particular, making them aware of the government’s Warm House Discount scheme.

It means that householders on benefits are entitled to one-off £140 reductions in electricity bills between October and April.

In 2016 alone, Sandra and her team have helped 380 people claim £53,200 savings on the scheme.

She also helps householders cut their bills in a variety of other areas including passing on tips to conserve energy including not to boil so much water.

She said: “It costs 6p to boil enough water to make a cup of tea but 20 to 30p to boil a kettle-full during the day.”

Sandra, one of just 15 Heat Heroes across the UK, was accompanied to the awards ceremony by her boss, Grwp Cynefin employment and training officer Ieuan Davies.

He nominated her, saying: “Sandra has now helped mentor three new energy wardens, she has helped advise about 1,200 residents and she even gained third place for TPAS Cymru’s Tenant of the Year award in 2014.”