Rural Energy Champions Project Awareness Session

1. Rural Energy Champions Project Awareness Session

2. Introductions

3. 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.

4. Session Objectives By the end of the session we want you to understand: • 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

5. Understanding fuel povertyQuiz

6. What is Fuel Poverty? “..a fuel poor household is one which needs to spend more than 10%of household income to achieve a satisfactory heatingregime21OC in the living room and 18OCin 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Causes of Fuel Poverty Under occupancy Low incomes High fuel costs Energy inefficient homes Fuel Poverty Don’t heat the home Heat the home Ill health Condensation Fuel Debt Housing Disrepair

10. 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.

11. Fuel poverty, health and wellbeing

12. 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 winter deaths

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Energy use in the home Understanding heating and hot water systems Quiz

18. Energy consumption in the home Appliances 17% Hot Water 23% Heating 60%

19. Off-gas heating systems An overview

20. Boilers Wall hung Floor mounted

21. Electric Storage Heaters

22. Solid Fuel

23. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)

24. Oil

25. 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

26. Identifying households in fuel povertyQuiz

27. 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! • 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.

28. 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

29. Triggers – What you may SENSE: Cold Large differences in temperatures between rooms Draughts The smell of damp

30. 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

31. Solutions Quiz

32. 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

33. Adequate ventilation How to reduce moisture production in the home Eliminate damp and condensation If damp and condensation is an issue consider:

34. 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

35. Improve incomes Are householders claiming their benefit entitlements? Accessing benefits can increase incomes and ‘passport’ households into available grant schemes and other services

36. 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?

37. 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?

38. Solutions Grants, schemes & servicesQuiz

39. 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

40. Support on energy prices • Winter Fuel Payments • Between £100-£300 dependent upon particular circumstances • Cold Weather Payments • £25 per week for every seven consecutive days below 0o Celsius ambient temperature • Warm Home Discount • 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 low-income or vulnerable households may also receive discretionary support from some suppliers by application.

41. 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: 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). 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). Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO): promotes the installation of measures, including the repair and replacement of boilers, to homes in receipt of certain benefits, to reduce the overall cost of space heating (see Chapters 4 and 7).

43. 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. Schemes (3) Energy Company Obligation

44. 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 • www.energypeoplestrust.com

45. Fuel Debt Advice • Consumer Direct • Telephone: 08454 04 05 06 • Website: www.consumerdirect.gov.uk • Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) • Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk • Turn2us • Website: www.turn2us.org.uk • Your first point of contact should be your supplier

46. 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

47. 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

48. Energy Advice • Energy Saving Trust (EST) • Tel: 0800 512012 • Website: www.est.org.uk • The Home Heat Helpline • Tel: 0800 336699

49. Any questions so far?...

50. 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”