Rural Energy Champions Project
Awareness Session
Introductions
Overview of the Project
• X is a new community initiative
• We are recruiting energy champions from different sectors to
promote key energy saving and energy efficiency messages
to fuel poor off-gas rural households
• Households benefitting from assistance will be signposted to
sources of specialist energy advice, available grant aid and
other services by champions
• All champions benefit from support to help them to promote
key messages to households.
Session Objectives
By the end of the session we want you to understand:
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the purpose of the project, your role and how it will operate
What fuel poverty is and its causes
The impact of fuel poverty on individuals and communities
Why and how off-gas rural households are affected
Basic facts about off-gas heating and hot water systems
How to identify households at risk of/living in fuel poverty
Solutions to fuel poverty
Sources of available advice and assistance
Support and resources available
Understanding fuel poverty
Quiz
What is Fuel Poverty?
“..a fuel poor household is one which
needs to spend more than 10% of
household income to achieve a
satisfactory heating regime 21OC in the
living room and 18OC in other occupied
rooms.”
Fuel Poverty Strategy 2001
Essentially fuel poor households are those living in cold
and/or damp homes that they find it difficult to heat
Fuel Poverty – The Facts
Around 5.1 million households are fuel poor in
England
In the UK approximately 6.2 million households are
fuel poor
For every 1% increase in fuel prices, NEA estimates
another 40,000 households enter fuel poverty
Fuel poverty by region
The fuel poverty projections in the chart above are NEA assumptions based on all fuel companies having raised gas prices by 19%
and electricity prices by 10% September 2011. DECC estimate used for 2007 predictions.
Causes of Fuel Poverty
Low incomes
Under
occupancy
High fuel
costs
Energy
inefficient
homes
Fuel Poverty
Heat the
home
Don’t heat
the home
Condensation
Fuel Debt
Ill health
Housing Disrepair
Risk Groups
Those over 60 yrs and particularly over 75’s
Those living with a long term illness
Those with a disability
Children particularly the under 5’s
Any household is at risk of fuel poverty if they cannot afford
sufficient fuel for heating, hot water and appliances. Those on
low fixed incomes are particularly at risk.
Fuel poverty, health and
wellbeing
Cold Britain
In Britain, a cold spell during a mild winter is
followed:
•
Two days later by a sudden increase in
heart attacks by up to a third
•
Five days later by an increase in strokes
•
Twelve days later by an increase in
respiratory illnesses
The UK also has a high number of excess
Cold homes and health
Cold homes can be a significant risk to health:
18-21°C - no risk to sedentary, healthy people
Below 16°C - diminished resistance to respiratory infections
Below 12°C - increased blood pressure and viscosity
Below 9°C - after 2 or more hours, deep body temperature falls
Health impacts
Increased respiratory illness (asthma etc)
Increased blood pressure leading to heart attacks and strokes
Worsening arthritis and rheumatism
Reduced mobility and dexterity
Mild hypothermia/hypothermia
Reduced resistance to colds and infections
Worsening of long term medical health
Mental health and wellbeing can be diminished
Other impacts
Impact on community
• Homes in disrepair may look unsightly and affect the perception of
neighbourhoods
Impact on local economy
• Less money to spend within the local economy
Educational impacts
• Educational attainment of children suffers
• Bullying of children
Social exclusion
• Embarrassed to invite people into their homes
• Less social cohesion through social isolation
• Less money for social activities
Why are off-gas areas particularly affected
by fuel poverty?
Location and access to fuel
Higher cost of fuels (Bulk and per kW/h)
Requirement to bulk buy
Price fluctuation
Transportation problems
Tariff discounts not applicable (source of fuel)
Customer protection and fuel price regulation
Energy use in the home
Understanding heating and hot water
systems
Quiz
Energy consumption in the home
Appliances
17%Appliances
17%
Hot Water
Hot water
23%
23%
Heating
60%
Heating
60%
Off-gas heating systems
An overview
Boilers
Wall hung
Floor mounted
Electric Storage Heaters
Solid Fuel
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Oil
Immersion Heater Economy 7
Element B - Switches on
when boost is required only
Standard / Single
immersion
Element A - Switches on when timer
requests in the evening (on
Economy 7)
25
Identifying households in fuel
poverty
Quiz
Who can identify fuel poverty?
Anyone
Those working with the public are in an ideal position as they
come into contact with the public on a frequent basis!
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It is especially useful if people are seen in their own homes.
There are various triggers that may indicate that a household
is in fuel poverty.
Triggers – What you may SEE:
Outdoors:
Severe condensation on windows
Curtains kept closed to retain heat
Indoors:
Mould stains on walls or curtains
Portable bottled gas or electric heaters
Heating controls absent / not working /
switched off
Visual evidence that heating appliances are
not being used. e.g. dust on heating elements
Blocked vents
Triggers – What you may SENSE:
Cold
Large differences in
temperatures
between rooms
Draughts
The smell of damp
Triggers – What you may HEAR:
Home is usually too cold
Home is draughty
Fuel bills are too high
Getting into fuel debt
Stays in one room or bed to
keep warm
Child/ family member has
respiratory problems
Uses prepayment meter to
avoid incurring debt
Rationing fuel
Solutions
Quiz
Improve the energy efficiency of
homes
Consider:
Loft Insulation
Cavity Wall Insulation
Draught proofing
Consider:
Energy efficient heating systems
Consider:
Renewable and Micro generation technologies
Eliminate damp and condensation
If damp and condensation is an issue consider:
Adequate ventilation
How to reduce moisture
production in the home
How to Reduce Condensation
Main focus areas are kitchens and bathrooms, so:
Put lids on pans
Dry clothes outdoors
Find an alternative to bottle gas heaters
Improve ventilation:
Install extractor fans (humidistat controlled)/cooker
hoods
Open windows (where it is safe to do so)
Close & draught-proof doors
Install trickle vents
Improve incomes
Are householders claiming their benefit
entitlements?
Accessing benefits can increase incomes and
‘passport’ households into available grant schemes
and other services
Reduce fuel costs
Are households:
Using the cheapest fuels for heating, hot water and
appliances?
On the cheapest fuel tariffs and payment option?
Using the cheapest suppliers?
Managing fuel debts?
Use heating, hot water and
appliances efficiently
Are households:
Using heating and hot water controls correctly?
Turning appliances off when not on use?
Using energy efficient lighting and electrical appliances?
Solutions
Grants, schemes & services
Quiz
Income maximisation - benefit
entitlement checks
Are households claiming all their benefit entitlements?
Receipt of benefits is often a passport to other services
A householder’s first point of contact should be their local authority benefits
team
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) may provide this service locally www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Department for Work and Pensions
Local voluntary sector agencies (such as Age UK - Tel: 0800 169 6565) may
also provide advice for some households
Support on energy prices
Winter Fuel Payments
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Between £100-£300 dependent upon particular circumstances
Cold Weather Payments
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£25 per week for every seven consecutive days below 0o Celsius
ambient temperature
Warm Home Discount
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Automatic £120 discount on an electricity bill for those receiving the
guarantee element of Pension’s Credit and pay their bill to 1 of 6
key suppliers. Other Pension Credit customers and some lowincome or vulnerable households may also receive discretionary
support from some suppliers by application.
Schemes (1) Energy Company
Obligation
The Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) is a new programme designed to
reduce Britain’s energy consumption by funding home improvements worth
around £1.3 billion every year.
ECO will place obligations on certain larger domestic energy suppliers. These obligations must
be achieved through the promotion of energy efficiency measures to domestic energy users in
Great Britain.
The three distinct ECO obligations:
1. Carbon Emissions Reduction Obligation (CERO): promotes the installation of solid wall
and hard-to-treat cavity wall insulation alongside packages of measures (see Chapters 4
and 5).
2. Carbon Savings Community Obligation (CSCO): promotes the installation of insulating
measures and connections to district heating systems in areas of low income and rural
areas (see Chapters 4 and 6).
3. Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO): promotes the installation of
measures, including the repair and replacement of boilers, to homes in receipt of certain
Energy Company Obligation eligibility and
measures
People on certain income
related benefits
Many householders in older properties and
those on benefits or low incomes may qualify
for extra financial assistance. Call the Energy
Saving Advice Service (England, Scotland and
Wales) on 0300 123 1234 or visit
www.gov.uk/greendeal to see if you’re
eligible.
Living in
a private
property
Living in
social
housing
within
a rural
community
People
living
in a low
income
community
People
living
in older
properties
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X
X
Cavity wall insulation
Some homes have walls with a hollow space in the
middle. Putting insulation in this space is quick and
makes no mess because the work can be done from
outside the home.
External or internal solid wall insulation
Older homes usually have solid walls. Installing
insulation on the inside or outside of the wall can
dramatically reduce the heat that escapes your home.
Loft insulation
Heat rises and it might be leaking into your loft.
Insulating your loft, or topping up your existing
insulation, will keep heat inside your living spaces for
longer.
√
X
Heating improvements
Improvements, like replacing your boiler with a highefficiency boiler or updating your heating controls, can
help you reduce the amount of energy used to keep
your home warm.
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X
Schemes (3) Energy Company
Obligation
Where to start
Free impartial advice services are available. They can help with:
• finding out if you may be eligible
• explaining the support available
• accessing the support
• more information about the Energy Companies Obligation.
Telephone: 0300 123 1234
Please also see Green Deal for non-eligible ECO households.
Trust funds
British Gas
One off payments for household bills / energy arrears or essential appliances.
EDF Energy
One off payments for household bills / energy arrears or essential appliances.
E.ON (Caring Energy Fund)
Will provide essential appliances and heating repairs or boiler replacement Energy
efficiency measures / advice
Southern (Energy Plus Care)
Essential appliances and heating repairs or boiler replacement
nPower (first Step Fund)
Contact First Step team
ScottishPower Energy Peoples Trust
Fuel Debt Advice
Consumer Direct
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Telephone: 08454 04 05 06
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Website: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
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Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Turn2us
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Website: www.turn2us.org.uk
Your first point of contact should be your supplier
Fuel switching
Households may be able to switch fuel suppliers in order to reduce
their energy costs
Things to consider:
Cost
Check standing charge
Will prices change?
Contract– length/exit charge
Level of use
U-Switch provides independent advice on fuel switching
www.uswitch.com
Priority Service Register
Each fuel utility company may have its own version of the
register
Following can apply:
Customers of pensionable age
Disabled or chronically sick
Hearing and/or visually impaired
Services may include:
Bills and leaflets in large print and Braille
Talking bills
Use of password
Special controls and adaptors
Annual gas safety check
No winter disconnection
Energy Advice
Energy Saving Trust (EST)
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Tel: 0800 512012
Website: www.est.org.uk
The Home Heat Helpline
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Tel: 0800 336699
Any questions so far?...
Next steps
What you can do as a CORE energy champion!
“we are not expecting any champions to be energy
experts but rather be able to identify households in
need and to signpost them on to specialist energy
and other services”
Your energy champion role
As an energy champion all we want you to do is:
Be enthusiastic and commit to try and promote key energy saving/energy
efficiency messages to at least 15 rural off-gas households in need
Encourage and signpost households to specialist advice and services
Maintain monthly contact with your appointed NEA mentor and attend two
further catch-up meetings
Complete and return a simple record of the information given to each household
Take part in a simple end of project survey
Promoting key messages to
households
NEA has provided you with 2 simple resources to help:
A ‘10 top tips’ resource for circulation to individual
households
A ‘booklet’ presentation if you want to do an awareness
session with a group
Both resources will help you to promote the same key
messages to rural off-gas households
NEA mentoring support
NEA mentors are you source of support and guidance as an
energy champion
Mentors will:
Contact you each month to check on progress
Provide any guidance you need to promote key messages
Invite you to two short catch-up sessions to showcase your work
as a energy champion
Send you two email bulletins containing information on key
developments
Record keeping
All energy
champions are
expected to
keep a simple
record of their
work – a
checklist is
provided for you
Group discussion
“How can you promote key messages to local
residents?”
Think about:
• How can you best promote messages and encourage
individuals to act on the information provided?
 Where are the opportunities for promotion?
 How will you engage individuals or groups?
Record at least 3 key things you plan do to promote
messages as part of your day-to-day activity
Any questions?
End of session
Please collect your energy
champion certificate
and resource pack
Good luck, we’ll be in touch!