NEA Focus - September 2016 (print final)

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ISSUE 14 | CONFERENCE 2016NEA’S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR MEMBERS

W E L C O M E T O M A N C H E S T E R

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NEA Focus

Community briefings and training sessions

The NEA project coordinators have hit the road delivering community briefings and free training sessions across England, Wales and Scotland.

The training sessions are aimed at organisations engaging or planning to engage with the following priority groups across Britain:

• District heating customers• Lack of proficiency in English or Welsh• Lacking basic digital skills• Learning disability• Low literacy• Memory impairment• No personal internet access• Off-gas grid customers• Prepay customers• Private tenants• Severe or profound deafness• Social housing tenants

The sessions include information about smart meters, the smart meter rollout and other valuable information that will enable organisations to engage their communities. Shorter briefing sessions are also being held across the country.

If you would like more information on these opportunities contact us at [email protected].

Smart outlook

Smart Energy GB has published its fourth smart energy outlook last month. The Smart Energy outlook is the largest independent barometer of national public opinion on energy and smart meters.This research is conducted bi-annually, and surveys over 10,000 respondents on their attitudes towards smart meters. The main findings demonstrate:

• 84% of people with a smart meter have a better idea of their energy costs

• 69% of people with smart meters feel more in control of their energy use

• People with smart meters have better experiences of buying and using energy

• In-home displays increase the benefits people get from their smart meters

• Visibility of energy costs, in pounds and pence, is the biggest draw for consumers

Maria Wardrobe, Director of External Affairs, NEA said:“Whilst the research is based on all households, the findings indicate

positive implications for vulnerable and fuel poor households.

Individuals are reporting having a better idea of their energy costs

and feeling more in control of their energy use. By continuing our work

with trusted organisations and groups within communities we will

aim to ensure that fuel poor and vulnerable householders can get the

extra help they may need to maximise these benefits.”

Smart energy outlook is carried out for Smart Energy GB, twice a year, by independent research agency Populus. It surveys more than 10,000 people around the country. Read more at www.smartenergygb.org/resources/press-centre.

NEA Focus, Issue 14, September 2016 | Published by NEA External Affairs


NEA Focus

Smart Energy GBnational

partnerships announced

Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s their task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to get their gas and electricity under control.

Partnerships are at the heart of the approach to spreading the word about smart meters and engaging the nation. National partners are a key component of this to ensure no one is left behind and that consumers can receive the information they need to understand the benefits of smart meters. The depth and breadth of relationships that National partners bring will enable us to build momentum and engage householders at scale.

Recently announced national partnerships include:• Age UK• Citizens Advice• National Federation of ALMOs• Paypoint• National Housing Federation• Community Housing Cymru• Scottish Federation of Housing

Associations• ACRE

Smart Energy GB have a wealth of free resources available atwww.smartenergygb/partner-resources

Free marketing and campaigns training with Media Trust

Media Trust, the UK’s leading communications charity, is offering a free one-day marketing and campaign training course in partnership with Smart Energy GB in Communities. This one-day training course, tailored for those running smart meter campaigns, will equip trainees with the skills and confidence to communicate about smart meters effectively and plan a successful smart meter awareness campaign.

The training will provide delegates with a foundation in marketing skills including how to set communications aims and objectives; identify and target audiences; build digital into your marketing plan; and monitor and evaluate success.

There will be eight regional training sessions and six online workshops. If you are interested in attending one of these training sessions or workshops please contact [email protected].

To keep up to date with the Smart Energy GB in Communities programme, including news of grant funding, free-bite size sessions and training opportunities, please sign up to the Smart Energy GB in Communities newsletter. www.nea.org.uk/smartenergygb/e-newsletter

EditorLAURA McVEIGH [email protected] HART [email protected]

Contributions are welcome - please contact the editor.

NEA is an independent charity, Registration No. 290511Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 1853927

Registered office: West One, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PATelephone: 0191 261 5677 Email: [email protected]

With thanks to National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions, Northern Gas Networks, SGN andWales & West Utilities for sponsoring this issue of NEA Focus.

NEA Focus, Issue 14, September 2016 | Published by NEA External Affairs

CAF winners of the Large and Small Grants fund announced soon!

The winners of the Smart Energy GB grant funds have been chosen and will be announced on NEA’s website over the next few weeks.

The fund awards not-for-profit organisations who can help engage people and communities across Britain with information about how to get and use smart meters.

Organisations are required to be working with those who may face barriers to getting a smart meter. Small grants of up to £10,000 and large grants of 10,000 – 25,000 have been awarded to community organisations who will work directly with one or more of the priority groups on projects to be completed in 2016.

Further grant funds will be launched, contact [email protected] to be kept up to date on announcements.


Making Warmth Affordable

Working with communities to reduce fuel poverty, targeting the most deprived areas.

Making a real difference for those that need it mostTo date our projects have helped more than 30,000 homes. Community

projects delivered through our unique partnership with National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions have supported 9,000 homes, reducing the future fuel bills of fuel poor customers by almost £25 million and reducing CO2 by circa 625,000 tonnes.

Helping through innovation and collaborationMore than £800,000 has been put into innovative new solutions to tackle fuel poverty as a result of National Grid’s Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards, which were showcased at the NEA Annual Conference last year.

• Derbyshire Healthy Home project – Derbyshire County Council

• Walsall Advanced Retrofit Monitoring Project – Walsall Housing Group

• CityWest Homes Limited - Reducing energy bills in tower blocks

• Warm and Healthy Park Homes - Suffolk Coastal District Council

• Southway Housing Trust: Extending the benefits of solar PV in low-rise flats

Our next challenge is to effectively share the learning from these innovations and see these initial successes repeated with take-up across the country.

Raising awarenessThrough June and July we’ve been testing whether Facebook Advertising can help increase people’s awareness of the free or discounted gas connection provided through the fuel poor network extension scheme. Adverts targeted at deprived areas in Barking and Dagenham have exceeded our expectations with over 3,000 clicks seeking further information.

With the increasingly well-established link between cold homes and poor health, NEA members who attended the Annual Conference will remember there was a call for gas networks to raise awareness of their work to reduce fuel poverty.

Inviting feedback on our 2016 performance

We have published our Stakeholder Report for 2016 and are now inviting stakeholders to give their

views on our performance and help influence future priorities.

As well as keeping the network safe and reliable, we work hard to make a positive difference within local communities, keep the customer at the heart of the business and develop new technology to save time and money. We also play a key role in delivering new and sustainable forms of energy.

All these achievements are clearly set out in the 2016 Stakeholder Report, which can be downloaded at www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/ngn-and-you/

Packed full of useful information, the report details the activities and achievements at NGN over the last 12 months. It also brings to life important facts and figures about our performance by including examples of our work and showing how collaboration with charities, businesses, local authorities, education providers, government and other utility companies is benefiting the region.From setting out our regulatory performance inside the Ofgem conditions, to supporting vulnerable customers and local communities, and from developing innovative technology to shaping the future role of gas, the report is an opportunity to explore valuable information relevant to everyone with a stake in NGN’s performance.

From now until November we will be consulting on our priorities and future plans and are keen to hear everyone’s views, from the customers we impact to the people we work with every day like local authorities, charities and community groups. This can be done by answering five key questions on a short online survey.

The survey can be completed at northerngasnetworks.co.uk/getinvolved or by emailing feedback to [email protected]

Key facts from our 2016 Stakeholder Report• NGN delivers gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses

across the North East, northern Cumbria and most of Yorkshire

• 24/7 emergency response team ready to respond to gas escapes

• Generates £300 million for the region’s economy by stimulating employment and consumer spending

• Number one for customer satisfaction in 2015/16 according to Ofgem’s league table of gas distributors

• 3,927 Carbon Monoxide safety briefings delivered to customers in 2015/16

• 9 biomethane plants now connected to the network

Latest news from the gas networks

Helping to heat homes

We’re focused on delivering affordable energy to our customers by:

• Making homes warmer by connecting low income and vulnerable customers to our network

• Helping our existing customers to access affordable heat by reducing our impact on customer bills and

• Supporting communities who are living off-gas grid

Help to HeatThrough our Help to Heat scheme we’ve helped over 15,000 households living in fuel poverty across Scotland and south England to connect to our network for less, saving around £8.4 million in energy costs since 2013. Collaborative working with partner organisations and other utilities, such as National Energy Action, Energy Action Scotland, Warmworks and Energy Savings Trust, has helped us to offer the most vulnerable households a wide range of support services.

To help our scheme reach as many households as possible, we’ve partnered with independent gas transporters to support households in their networks by offering the same access to the Help to Heat scheme as those living in our own network. So far, we have committed funds to help connect over 650 households.

Beyond connectionsWorking with NEA, and in partnership with other networks, we’re coordinating the trial of energy efficiency devices in existing social housing to test their potential savings for consumers.

Additionally, through NEA and EAS training, our frontline colleagues are now able to better identify and support vulnerable and fuel poor customers every day.

To support off-gas grid innovation, we set up the Energy Ideas Fund with Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and funded £100,000 towards six trial projects. We’re sharing the learnings of these pioneering projects nationally.

Fuel poor hubsWorking with Warm Wales, we’re committed to coordinating the National Energy Action

(NEA) Warm and Healthy Homes Fund, the House Doctor and

One-Stop Care & Repair services. These initiatives identify people with

health problems made worse by cold and damp homes and offer support. We’ve also

supported Flintshire and City of Cardiff councils in successful bids to win £325,000 from the NEA Warm and

Healthy Homes Fund.

DECC Central Heating FundWe’ve supported three local authorities in the south west of England to bid for funding from DECC’s one-off £25 million fund for new central heating systems and, by raising awareness of the programme, we have improved local authorities’ understanding of how community-based gas connection schemes need to be managed. So far, there have been 150 connections under this fund, with another 500 forecast. Now we’re working with other gas networks to help local authorities in their areas to deliver Central Heating Fund connections.

National Grid and colleagues from other gas networks were welcomed

positively and enthusiastically at the recent Faculty of Public Health Conference in Brighton and we’re

already exploring a more significant role at next year’s event.

Focused on getting rid of fuel poverty

As a business our values drive everything we do – we always put our customers first.

We are committed to doing all we can to tackle the problem of fuel poverty and helping those people and families who are most in need. Fuel poverty is a problem across the area we serve in both Wales and the south west of England, not just in urban areas, but also rural communities not connected to the gas network. To provide practical help to people, our strategy is to:

• identify fuel poor customers and provide clear advice on the help available

• work with others across our sector, looking for opportunities for projects and funding to deliver solutions

• seek out partners in fuel poor schemes to extend the gas network and;

• advise local authorities and others developing fuel poverty assistance schemes


Making Warmth Affordable

Working with communities to reduce fuel poverty, targeting the most deprived areas.

Making a real difference for those that need it mostTo date our projects have helped more than 30,000 homes. Community

projects delivered through our unique partnership with National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions have supported 9,000 homes, reducing the future fuel bills of fuel poor customers by almost £25 million and reducing CO2 by circa 625,000 tonnes.

Helping through innovation and collaborationMore than £800,000 has been put into innovative new solutions to tackle fuel poverty as a result of National Grid’s Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards, which were showcased at the NEA Annual Conference last year.

• Derbyshire Healthy Home project – Derbyshire County Council

• Walsall Advanced Retrofit Monitoring Project – Walsall Housing Group

• CityWest Homes Limited - Reducing energy bills in tower blocks

• Warm and Healthy Park Homes - Suffolk Coastal District Council

• Southway Housing Trust: Extending the benefits of solar PV in low-rise flats

Our next challenge is to effectively share the learning from these innovations and see these initial successes repeated with take-up across the country.

Raising awarenessThrough June and July we’ve been testing whether Facebook Advertising can help increase people’s awareness of the free or discounted gas connection provided through the fuel poor network extension scheme. Adverts targeted at deprived areas in Barking and Dagenham have exceeded our expectations with over 3,000 clicks seeking further information.

With the increasingly well-established link between cold homes and poor health, NEA members who attended the Annual Conference will remember there was a call for gas networks to raise awareness of their work to reduce fuel poverty.

Inviting feedback on our 2016 performance

We have published our Stakeholder Report for 2016 and are now inviting stakeholders to give their

views on our performance and help influence future priorities.

As well as keeping the network safe and reliable, we work hard to make a positive difference within local communities, keep the customer at the heart of the business and develop new technology to save time and money. We also play a key role in delivering new and sustainable forms of energy.

All these achievements are clearly set out in the 2016 Stakeholder Report, which can be downloaded at www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/ngn-and-you/

Packed full of useful information, the report details the activities and achievements at NGN over the last 12 months. It also brings to life important facts and figures about our performance by including examples of our work and showing how collaboration with charities, businesses, local authorities, education providers, government and other utility companies is benefiting the region.From setting out our regulatory performance inside the Ofgem conditions, to supporting vulnerable customers and local communities, and from developing innovative technology to shaping the future role of gas, the report is an opportunity to explore valuable information relevant to everyone with a stake in NGN’s performance.

From now until November we will be consulting on our priorities and future plans and are keen to hear everyone’s views, from the customers we impact to the people we work with every day like local authorities, charities and community groups. This can be done by answering five key questions on a short online survey.

The survey can be completed at northerngasnetworks.co.uk/getinvolved or by emailing feedback to [email protected]

Key facts from our 2016 Stakeholder Report• NGN delivers gas to 2.7 million homes and businesses

across the North East, northern Cumbria and most of Yorkshire

• 24/7 emergency response team ready to respond to gas escapes

• Generates £300 million for the region’s economy by stimulating employment and consumer spending

• Number one for customer satisfaction in 2015/16 according to Ofgem’s league table of gas distributors

• 3,927 Carbon Monoxide safety briefings delivered to customers in 2015/16

• 9 biomethane plants now connected to the network

Latest news from the gas networks

Helping to heat homes

We’re focused on delivering affordable energy to our customers by:

• Making homes warmer by connecting low income and vulnerable customers to our network

• Helping our existing customers to access affordable heat by reducing our impact on customer bills and

• Supporting communities who are living off-gas grid

Help to HeatThrough our Help to Heat scheme we’ve helped over 15,000 households living in fuel poverty across Scotland and south England to connect to our network for less, saving around £8.4 million in energy costs since 2013. Collaborative working with partner organisations and other utilities, such as National Energy Action, Energy Action Scotland, Warmworks and Energy Savings Trust, has helped us to offer the most vulnerable households a wide range of support services.

To help our scheme reach as many households as possible, we’ve partnered with independent gas transporters to support households in their networks by offering the same access to the Help to Heat scheme as those living in our own network. So far, we have committed funds to help connect over 650 households.

Beyond connectionsWorking with NEA, and in partnership with other networks, we’re coordinating the trial of energy efficiency devices in existing social housing to test their potential savings for consumers.

Additionally, through NEA and EAS training, our frontline colleagues are now able to better identify and support vulnerable and fuel poor customers every day.

To support off-gas grid innovation, we set up the Energy Ideas Fund with Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and funded £100,000 towards six trial projects. We’re sharing the learnings of these pioneering projects nationally.

Fuel poor hubsWorking with Warm Wales, we’re committed to coordinating the National Energy Action

(NEA) Warm and Healthy Homes Fund, the House Doctor and

One-Stop Care & Repair services. These initiatives identify people with

health problems made worse by cold and damp homes and offer support. We’ve also

supported Flintshire and City of Cardiff councils in successful bids to win £325,000 from the NEA Warm and

Healthy Homes Fund.

DECC Central Heating FundWe’ve supported three local authorities in the south west of England to bid for funding from DECC’s one-off £25 million fund for new central heating systems and, by raising awareness of the programme, we have improved local authorities’ understanding of how community-based gas connection schemes need to be managed. So far, there have been 150 connections under this fund, with another 500 forecast. Now we’re working with other gas networks to help local authorities in their areas to deliver Central Heating Fund connections.

National Grid and colleagues from other gas networks were welcomed

positively and enthusiastically at the recent Faculty of Public Health Conference in Brighton and we’re

already exploring a more significant role at next year’s event.

Focused on getting rid of fuel poverty

As a business our values drive everything we do – we always put our customers first.

We are committed to doing all we can to tackle the problem of fuel poverty and helping those people and families who are most in need. Fuel poverty is a problem across the area we serve in both Wales and the south west of England, not just in urban areas, but also rural communities not connected to the gas network. To provide practical help to people, our strategy is to:

• identify fuel poor customers and provide clear advice on the help available

• work with others across our sector, looking for opportunities for projects and funding to deliver solutions

• seek out partners in fuel poor schemes to extend the gas network and;

• advise local authorities and others developing fuel poverty assistance schemes



NEA Focus

7

WARM MINDSPromoting warmer homes for those living with mental health issues, dementia, and other learning disabilities or difficulties.

NEA is rolling out a new Warm Minds project in seven areas across England and Wales in 2016 with the support of E.ON. The project aims to help those living with mental health issues, dementia and other learning disabilities or difficulties to better manage their energy needs and energy usage to achieve warmer, more energy efficient homes.

It is widely recognised that living in cold, damp homes can exacerbate physical medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and respiratory infections, but the psychological impacts should not be overlooked. Living in cold conditions for long periods can be stressful and often has a negative effect on mental wellbeing. This can be further aggravated by living on a low income, in poor housing, worrying about energy bills or dealing with fuel debts.

It is NEA’s experience that many individuals living with mental health issues, dementia or learning disabilities can face particular difficulties in, for example, managing energy use, accessing better energy deals and paying for energy, as well as being able to take advantage of schemes and services on offer to help them achieve warmer and more energy efficient homes.

Warm Minds aims to address some of these issues by engaging with local support organisations in various localities across England and Wales to promote the availability of free basic energy advice training courses to educate their frontline staff and support workers to be better able to provide basic energy advice, support and service signposting. Training will be complemented by a bespoke energy advice guide and an energy advice resource for service users and carers.

NEA will also be working with organisations to develop and provide bespoke energy advice sessions and other activities tailored to the particular needs of service users and carers to help them manage their energy use, stay warm and healthy, access energy market and utility services as well as other available energy efficiency schemes and services.

NEA is grateful for support from E.ON. For further information about the Warm Minds project please contact Malcolm Dove (Project Development Manager) at NEA on 0191 269 2932. Free training and advice sessions are limited and location specific, please contact the relevant NEA project officer in each of the Warm Minds project areas for local details:

• East Midlands - Nicky Swetnam - Tel: 0115 970 4026• North East - Maureen Fildes - Tel: 0191 269 2929• North West - Jimmy Pugh - Tel: 0151 728 7678• South East - Rebecca Jones - Tel: 01273 810 230• Wales - Ben Saltmarsh - Tel: 029 2072 6580• Yorkshire - Diane Bland - Tel: 01609 767 092

KEEPING WARM AND STAYING WARM

NEA is working with seven community organisations and social landlords around Liverpool as part of the Keeping Warm and Staying Warm project funded through the Scottish Power Energy People Trust. The aim of the project is to educate families with young children on the solutions to fuel poverty and fuel debt with the overall aim of removing them from fuel poverty and/or avoiding the future fuel poverty trap.

In the short term, the project will equip these families with the knowledge to be able to reduce their fuel bills and maximise their income. In the longer term, by training frontline advice staff, the project will allow them to continually provide advice and support to families into the future.

70 households have enrolled to take part in a series of four short workshops covering topics such as saving energy around the home; managing energy bills; heating controls and eligibility for schemes such as the Warm Home Discount, Priority Services Register and various trust funds.

On completion of the workshops the households are provided with an “energy hamper” containing a slow cooker, food steamer and pack of 6 LED lightbulbs to encourage reducing energy usage and reducing energy bills.

The children in the households are provided with an energy- related “activity pack” and set a number of tasks, such as word searches and spot the difference, to complete to be entered into a prize draw.


NEA Focus

NEA’S HEALTH ANDINNOVATION PROGRAMMESuffolk Coastal District CouncilLooking at patients’ living conditions is not intuitive for professionals who are people-focused, however Suffolk Coastal is addressing these challenges through the Warm Homes Health People project by helping medical specialists to recognise the relevance of cold homes to people’s health. Working directly with GP surgeries, initially within the five target areas with the highest levels of fuel poverty in Suffolk, the project is successfully encouraging health professionals to refer some of their most vulnerable residents to the scheme.

As part of NEA’s Health and Innovation Fund, Suffolk Coastal District Council is running the Warm Homes Healthy People project for all of the Suffolk Councils, to help improve fuel poor households throughout the district. The scheme is supported by a range of statutory, voluntary and community partners, with funding from Suffolk Public Health and installations delivered by Aran Services.

Due to the difficulties of establishing data sharing agreements with Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and GP surgeries the project has taken an alternative route to identify patients at risk. Each surgery was funded to send out marketing letters to patients at risk from the effects of living in a cold home, targeting patients aged 75 and over, with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. Within the letter, individuals are offered a free home energy efficiency visit and anyone eligible is then referred for major heating repairs or first time heating, loft and cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing, emergency fuel payments and help with loft clearances.

The funding for these measures currently comes from both NEA’s Health and Innovation Programme and the DECC (now DBEIS) first time heating project.

One Suffolk resident heard about the project when she met the Warm Homes Health Liaison Officer at a Stroke Association group. Mrs C is recovering from cancer and she and her partner have had a stroke. Their boiler was very old and inefficient, it was expensive to run and worked very intermittently which they both agreed was affecting their health. The couple had a simple home survey completed and have since received a fully funded boiler and energy advice.

Mrs C said:“The new boiler is absolutely fantastic, I’m really pleased and it’s much easier to work. It’s very accessible, the installers were very pleasant, efficient and it was done in a few days. Having this new boiler is such a relief”

Hospital Discharge ProjectThe Hospital Discharge Project run by HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team) is based in Whipps Cross hospital and is bringing together social workers, the reablement team, community nurses and hospital staff for the first time to work across three local authority areas - Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Essex. Referral routes have been established for patients to receive affordable warmth and handyperson services.HEET provides a single point of contact for people living in cold homes in Waltham Forest. This service covers all Whipps Cross patients, including those discharged to the neighbouring boroughs of Redbridge and West Essex, ensuring all patients receive the same service. As well as low-cost measures such as loft insulation, draught-proofing, radiator panels and low-energy light bulbs the service includes boiler repairs, heating improvements and cavity wall insulation.

Mr Loveland was referred to HEET by an occupational therapist working for NELFT (North East London Foundation Trust). He had just been discharged from hospital following the amputation of his arm due to a circulatory illness and, as he could not turn on his gas fire single-handed, he was struggling with the cold.

The house is solid wall construction, with single-glazed windows, no loft insulation and heated using individual gas fires making it very energy inefficient and an estimated EPC rating of F. Over the winter period Mr Loveland’s circulatory problems meant that he needed to keep the house at a constant warm temperature.

HEET helped Mr Loveland learn a safe way to light his gas fire. They fitted a new hot water cylinder jacket and timer to ensure he only heated his hot water when he needed it rather than 24 hours a day as he was doing previously. He also received draught-proofing for his windows and external doors as well as loft insulation and additional energy advice. Mr. Loveland is now living comfortably and independently at home. A basic online SAP rating tool suggests it now costs him £340 less a year to keep his house adequately warm.


NEA Focus

9

Chester and Cheshire West Council targets park homesAn innovative scheme to install energy efficiency measures at an old park home site in Elton is lifting vulnerable residents out of fuel poverty. Managed by Cheshire West and Chester Council, and delivered by contractors Cornerstone, the project aims to help make homes warmer and reduce energy bills for the older people who live in them. On average, park home residents are older and on much lower incomes than the general population, and as a result, are more likely to be in fuel poverty.

Orchard Park, Elton, is in an off-gas area within Cheshire and contains 109 privately owned park homes. All of the residents with uninsulated homes expressed interest in the scheme, with those living in the oldest park homes prioritised for works.

Thanks to part-funding from NEA’s Technical Innovation Fund, innovative energy solutions are being trialled to help the residents. The council was awarded funding to add to its own budget to enable the insulation of an initial 30 park homes. The project was also successful in obtaining some additional funding - enabling 52 homes in total to benefit from the scheme. All 52 properties received external wall insulation, loft and underfloor insulation where possible, and heat recovery units were fitted in 15 of the properties.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment at the council said: “This park home insulation project will help provide warmer homes and reduce the energy bills for some of our most vulnerable residents. Addressing energy efficiency and affordable warmth is one of our key priorities and we’ll be looking to apply for further funding to insulate more park homes within the borough.”

NEA is monitoring the thermal performance of the park homes before and after the installation of insulation and heat recovery units. The installation of a range of product combinations will enable NEA to make direct comparisons between the solutions, which will inform best practice in park home retrofit on a national basis.

Meet Bear…An unexpected visitor needed to be rescued from a sticky situation at one of NEA’s Technical Innovation Fund projects in Cheshire this spring.

Workers at the Glen in Palacefields, Runcorn, stepped in when they spotted a hedgehog fighting for his life in a pothole full of water. The project, carried out by Riverside Housing, is to retrofit 35 houses, addressing heat loss and damp issues.

Kathy New from NEA said: “Hedgehogs are endangered in Britain and this one was well spotted by site manager Darren from Caribou who cleaned him off. He was taken in by architect Jon Moorhouse who built him a shelter especially.”

Jon added: “It was interesting because some people doing hedgehog research had just been to my mum’s house to install a camera, looking at movement and capturing numbers. So I was made aware about them and had some knowledge of how to look after them.”

Named Bear Quills for his exploratory and survival skills, the hedgehog made a full recovery.


NEA Focus

10

The Heat Hero Awards are open to individuals across England and Wales and celebrate those who go above and beyond to get the recognition they deserve – for helping people in their community live in warmer homes.

Not-for-profit organisations including local authorities, health and social care agencies, voluntary and statutory agencies and community groups were encouraged to nominate staff and

volunteers for the awards, held in partnership with ScottishPower.

NEA received nominations for some very strong candidates this year, but the judges managed to select fifteen worthy winners. They represented each region well and came from a wide array of organisations. The youngest was 18-year-old James Foster of

Wolverhampton Council with Jake Ellis, 21; of Plymouth Energy Community not far behind and the oldest was Ted Evans, 93 of Age Connects North Wales Central. A variety of charities, social housing groups, local authorities and others all applied for the award and there were over 60 nominations this year.

HEAT HEROES WINNERS 2016 ANNOUNCED!“[She] has supported 235

tenants over 12 months and helped tenants save over

£43,200 by switching deals and accessing grants etc.”

“In cases where some people were in particular need the pair had a big impact. For example for an elderly man who had no heating for three years and on

another occasion, a single mum of three – saving her £800 per year.”

• Rachel Kent, Public Health Specialist at Wiltshire Council nominated by Phillip Morris (CSE)

• Shelly Davis, Warm and Well Project – South Yorkshire Energy Centre nominated by Chris Shaw, Sheffield City Council

• James Foster, City of Wolverhampton Council nominated by Mandy Findlay

• Ian Calvert, YES Energy Solutions nominated by Jos Mister

• Kim Bartle, Affordable Warmth at Boston Mayflower nominated by Katy Roberts

• Jack Dangerfield and Tim Beecher, Brighton & Hove Energy Services Cooperative (BHESCO) nominated by Dan Curtis

• Angela Broadhurst, Oldham Council nominated by John Rooney

• Kirsty Burns, Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council nominated by Debra Baillie-Murden

• Rosie Thorpe, Beat the Cold (Changes4Warmth project) nominated by Michaela Fyson

• Christine Nicholls, Community Action Northumberland nominated by ten people from local organisations

• Debra Fox, ENGIE Ltd in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council nominated by Jacqui Wells

• Sandra Kargin, Grwp Cynefin social housing group, nominated by Ieuan Davies

• Giles Read, Thinking Works, nominated by Natalie Sansom of Harrow Council.

• Ted Evans, Age Connects North Wales Central nominated by Alison Price

• Jake Ellis, Plymouth Energy Community nominated by Clare Mains


NEA Focus

11

The Leicestershire ‘Warm Homes, Healthy Homes’ service was commissioned by the Leicestershire County Council Public Health team in order to implement many of the recommendations included in the NICE Guidance on tackling excess winter deaths and illness and the health risks associated with cold homes.

The service is co-delivered by the Papworth Trust and NEA, and provides Leicestershire householders living in cold homes with a single point of contact via a telephone helpline. The service also works very closely with the Leicestershire First Contact scheme as well as a range of other service providers such as Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and handyperson schemes.

Those staffing the helpline are trained in the provision of basic energy advice and are able to support callers to access appropriate assistance tailored to the individual needs of the householder. For more complex circumstances, or for householders who are particularly vulnerable, the service is able to offer a home visit.

LEICESTERSHIRE WARM HOMES, HEALTHY HOMES

IMPROVING HEALTH IN MORE EFFICIENT HOMESWarm Homes, Healthy Homes is particularly targeted at householders who are at risk of ill health from living in a cold home. In order to identify such householders, the service delivers awareness sessions for frontline staff working in health and social care settings and in the voluntary sector, particularly those who make home visits.

By delivering these sessions, the service ensures that health and social care practitioners, as well as housing professionals and voluntary sector workers, are in a better position to provide assistance to those whose homes may be too cold for their health and wellbeing. In addition, the service also offers sessions for community groups of potential beneficiaries of the service, thereby raising awareness of the public about how to keep warm at home.

The range of assistance provided by the Warm Homes, Healthy Homes service includes support with applying for the Warm Home Discount, registering on the Priority Services Register, advice and support with switching to a better tariff and assistance with applying for debt relief and funding for energy efficiency home improvements. In addition to the nationally available funding sources for this type of work, Leicestershire County Council have also been successful in becoming one of several ‘Health & Innovation Programme’ projects funded by NEA.

A Health Needs Assessment was carried out by NEA during the first year of delivery of the service. This explored the incidence of cold-related ill health, the extent to which households may be considered at risk of fuel poverty and the relationship between the two. The findings of this Health Needs Assessment are being used to help target provision during the second year of the service.

This highly successful service is an example of how the NICE Guidance can drive good practice in this field and how the impact of such services has been significantly broadened by the injection of capital funding for energy improvements made possible by the NEA Health & Innovation Programme.

For further information about the Leicestershire Warm Homes, Healthy Homes

service, please contact [email protected].

ENERGY ADVICE SUPPORT SERVICE

NEA is currently working with Northern Gas Networks on a pilot project to provide an energy advice service to vulnerable and fuel poor households across Tyneside.

The Energy Advice Support Service is a six month pilot project (July-December 2016) which is engaging with community sector agencies to offer a range of energy awareness and advice to their service users. This comprises both one-to-one and group energy advice surgeries and awareness sessions. The service is also operating an energy advice line on 0191 269 2927 for the duration of the project which service users can use to seek advice (a call back facility will operate if advisors are out of office delivering events).

NEA advisors are providing bespoke energy advice on a range of topics to assist individuals to manage their energy use, access better energy deals and take advantage of utility and other schemes and services to help them achieve a warmer more energy efficient home. NEA will be working with other partners to refer on those needing specialist income maximisation, money advice and generic debt advice as part of the service.

For further information on the Energy Advice Support Service and energy advice sessions contact NEA project coordinators, Maureen Fildes (Tel: 0191 269 2929) or Lesley Tudor-Snodin (Tel: 0191 269 2924).


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HATS OFF TO BEN!Many congratulations to NEA Cymru’s Training and Project Officer Ben Saltmarsh who graduated in July 2016 with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Cardiff Metropolitan University. Ben also won the University’s Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) Academic Excellence Award.

Ben became a member of the NEA Cymru team in September 2014 having previously worked as a fuel debt supervisor with the Speakeasy Advice Centre in Cardiff. Over the past year Ben has trained 160 frontline advisors and community workers right across Wales on how to help and advise clients who are finding it difficult to pay their energy bills. As a result 94 advisors went on to gain the Level 2 City & Guilds-accredited fuel

debt qualification.

WALES

NEW FIGURES RELEASED ON FUEL POVERTY LEVELS IN WALES In July this year the Welsh Government released new statistics to esti-mate the levels of fuel poverty in Wales. The results showed that fuel poverty levels have decreased from 29% (364,000 households) in 2012 to 23% (291,000 households) in 2016 according to the 10% definition of fuel poverty, where a household is defined as being in fuel poverty if they need to spend more than 10% of household income to maintain an adequate standard of warmth.

The statistics show that the vast majority of households in fuel poverty in Wales are deemed to be vulnerable (261,000 households), but there are also over 40,000 households living in severe fuel poverty (spending more

than 20% of household income on heating) and over 60,000 fuel poor households in social housing. The new data also give estimates at a local authority level with the lowest levels being seen in Monmouthshire with one in five households in fuel poverty and the highest number of households in Gwynedd (27%).

The Fuel Poverty Coalition Cymru has given a cautious welcome to the publication of the new projections having previously called on the Welsh Government to improve the data available on fuel poverty. The Coalition will be looking closely at the

report in the following months.


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POWER CUT? CALL 105

On 6 September a new national phone number ‘105’ was launched by electricity network op-erators for customers to call should they need to report or get information about a power cut in their area. The service is free for people throughout

England, Scotland and Wales and will put customers through to the electricity network operator who manag-es the cables, power lines and substations that deliver electricity into homes and businesses in their area.

105 is just one of the ways that customers will be able to contact their specific electricity network operator. They can also contact them by phone or via their web-site, and most network operators, including Northern Powergrid, are on social media too.

Customers can also call 105 if they spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put anyone in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, they should call the emergency services too.

GET INVOLVED IN RAISING AWARENESS An awareness campaign will run from September through to next spring and will include PR, media advertising, social media and coordinated messaging through partner channels. The following materials will be available online to help raise awareness to stake-holders:

• Copy for newsletters, websites and magazines• 105 imagery• Tips on what to do in a power cut• Comments from our spokespeople• Images which can be used on your social media

pages• An animated film explaining 105• We can also work with you to co-create bespoke

content specifically for your channels, where appropriate

If you’re able to support awareness raising of 105, get in touch with Northern Powergrid by emailing: [email protected]

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN HEALTHY LIVINGBlackburn with Darwen (BwD) Healthy Living is a charity working to help the 8000 households living in fuel poverty throughout the borough. The service, called Bill Busters, is currently funded by the Big Lottery and has been running for four years.

The Bill Busters programme provides people with advice, information and the tools needed to enable them to make changes to reducing their fuel costs, maximising their income and keeping warm. The key element of the programme is the home visiting service for all users which offers intensive support to vulnerable households who may also be in fuel debt.

The home visits are carried out by a small team of two part-time energy advisers who take a holistic approach to dealing with fuel poverty. Each visit is individually tailored to meet the needs of the person/family such as checking their tariff, the energy efficiency of their property, current payment plan, if they are in debt and helping with applications for any discount schemes they may be eligible for.

BwD Healthy Living’s chief officer Abdul Mulla commented “In the last year alone we have carried out over 150 home visits that required different levels of support to tackle the issues of fuel poverty/debt.

“In that time, we have so far applied for 39 grants to the value of £48,301.29 of fuel debt for residents in Blackburn, that’s an average of nearly £1,200.00 worth of debt per household. We have also been awarded £8,260.00 worth of assistance for residents’ electricity bills through the Warm Home Discount Scheme and made savings of £8,062.56 on their bills by helping the householders to either change their fuel provider or switch to a cheaper tariff.”

An energy adviser from the team has been running an advice service from the Blackburn food bank for the past three years, with the view that if people are “struggling to eat, they will also be struggling to heat.” The project also helps to raise awareness of fuel poverty through community events and workshops and they also manage and run the affordable warmth forum for frontline staff in collaboration with the Borough Council.

Kate Hollern, MP for Blackburn with Darwen said: “Fuel poverty is a significant issue for many residents in Blackburn. In spite of well-publicised drops in oil prices these reductions have not been passed on by energy companies and gas and electricity costs are higher at a time when incomes are low. It is great to see that Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living is supporting people in tackling fuel costs.”


Members Focus

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A slow cooking revolution has swept across Cornwall thanks to an innovative project to deliver energy management training to 611 families.

Community Energy Plus’ Energy Fit Kitchens project set out to equip low income families in Cornwall with the life skills in home energy management to take control of their energy bills in order to enjoy warmer, healthier homes.

Workshops focusing on energy efficient, slow cooking provided a stepping stone to encourage people who might not otherwise be interested in accessing energy advice to engage in a conversation about their wider energy use throughout the home.

The events were designed to be relaxed and informal and created the environment for people to feel comfortable while taking part in discussions about their own experiences of cooking, their energy bills and how they use energy in their own homes. During the cooking demonstrations and presentations, Community Energy Plus’s energy advisors provided an introduction to energy efficiency by talking about ways to save energy in the kitchen and the small behaviour changes that can be made elsewhere in the home to add up to big savings on energy bills.

The charity utilised its position at the hub of Cornwall’s Winter Wellbeing network to help those facing the direst of financial situations to access funds to pay for key-meter top-ups, deliveries of heating oil and repairs to broken heating systems and the clearance

of fuel debt. They also provided referrals to other support agencies.The Energy Fit Kitchens project was funded by a grant of £47,333 from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust and delivered 36 events between April 2015 and May 2016. Feedback from project participants has given the Cornish charity food for thought on the benefits of developing this engagement approach further with a remarkable 92% of survey respondents saying they had changed their behaviour and reduced their energy use as a result of the project.

65% thought that they were eating better now that they have a slow cooker in their life and 26% have changed their energy tariff. Further information about the project and its achievements can be found on Community Energy Plus’ website at www.cep.org.uk/energyfitkitchens

COOKING UP AN INTEREST IN SAVING ENERGY AND MONEY

emh Group and De Montfort University have been working togeth-er over the past two years to develop a better understanding of energy use through the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). The KTP brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from a world class research institution and introduces a step change towards a holistic carbon reduction strategy for emh Group.

As part of this collaboration, emh Group has built expertise in setting up and project managing large-scale domestic energy monitoring projects. Over a hundred properties are currently monitored under the KTP project and analysed for energy con-sumption and changes in internal environment. New technol-ogies have been installed across our properties and monitoring devices are used to analyse how the new green innovations are used in practice. This is the largest monitoring exercise of its type in Europe. Analysis of this data has been successful in informing the company’s long-term asset management strategy and will

allow the organisation to make informed decisions about stock retention, refurbishment and remodelling.

Heat pumps play a key role in the Department of Energy and Cli-mate Change (DECC) strategy but there are still a number of sub-stantial challenges to growth. Many heat pump installations are struggling to meet the EU definition of a renewable energy and as a result, underperform. The KTP has introduced a novel method-ology for the sizing of heat pumps to address these challenges. Conclusions drawn from this study will address and help resolve key challenges facing heat pump customers.

The Green Team will be working on many more exciting projects in the coming year. Feel free to visit the Flow Energy and emh Green Team stand at the NEA conference to find out more about our work or visit our website at www.emhgreenteam.org.uk.

emh Group develop energy knowledge transfer partnership with De Montfort University


Members Focus

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ENGAGING WITH HARD TO REACH HOUSEHOLDS IN THE SMART METER ROLL-OUT AND ENERGY SAVING CAMPAIGNSA project with fuel poor households in one of the most deprived boroughs in London is helping to provide answers to the challenge of how to engage vulnerable and hard-to-reach customers on energy efficiency and the smart meter roll-out.

UK Power Networks, through its Low Carbon Networks-funded project energywise, has launched a household energy saving campaign in East London offering a smart meter, energy efficiency measures and a time-of-use tariff to fuel poor customers in Tower Hamlets. Energywise is delivered in collaboration with British Gas, NEA, UK Power Networks and other trusted local intermediaries. The project is setting out to answer a key question facing the energy industry: can we support fuel poor and vulnerable customers to manage their energy usage while also reducing peak demand and cutting the cost of strengthening the electricity network?

LESSONS LEARNTWith the recruitment phase now over, an impressive 40% sign-up rate has been achieved by the project. Evaluation of the energywise approach provides useful lessons for organisations seeking to engage vulnerable customers during the smart meter roll-out and energy saving campaigns.

In particular, interviews with project participants show that involving a respected local community organisation, with well-trained, area-based project field officers who are familiar with an area’s cultures and are fluent in the main locally-spoken languages, can be very effective in driving up recruitment rates. Approaching households through door knocking has also proven critical with more than 80% of energywise participants signed up through this method. While this approach can be time-consuming, focusing on evenings and weekends is particularly effective.

For the smart meter installation appointment, making this process hassle-free for customers is important in reducing drop-out rates. This requires providing clear and simple information to a household about what will be installed, by whom, when and how long it will take. A single point of contact and one visit only to a household also works best. In addition, any installation programme should take into consideration locally relevant festivals and traditions, such as Ramadan.

When incentivising vulnerable customers to say yes to a smart meter or energy project, it is important to understand what messages resonate. Learnings from energywise show that the primary motivation for participants was the prospect of saving money on their bills as well as the offer of free energy saving devices (e.g. LED lights). In addition, many were keen to receive a smart meter because of the easier prepay top-up methods available and/or because of the visibility of energy costs afforded by the Smart Energy Display. While energywise communication materials were generally well received, some participants said they would have liked even less text and more images. The project’s experience demonstrates that it is always beneficial to test messages through one or more focus groups before finalising.

Looking ahead, the project is currently assessing the extent of energy savings achieved through smart metering and energy efficiency measures, before a second trial will aim to understand households’ appetite to change their behaviour when on a time-of-use tariff.

For further information please contact Giulia Privitera, energywise Project Lead, UK Power Networks, [email protected]


Thousands of disabled Plymouth residents to stay Warm and Well thanks to Big Lottery Grant

Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) has been awarded more than £460,000 to continue pioneering community work to prevent fuel poverty. The project, Warm and Well, will take place over four years and will reach 3,500 Plymouth households that have health conditions, physical and learning disability or mental health needs, to minimise the causes and symptoms of fuel poverty.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Big Lottery is backing us with this grant” said Alistair Macpherson, CEO of PEC. “Two thirds of the fuel poor households

we’ve supported over the last 18 months have a disability or long-term illness.

Far too many people have to choose between heating and eating and it

affects residents’ physical and mental health. There is an urgent need for this

project and we can now work to find effective and accessible ways to improve

the situation.”

The project aims to improve confidence to manage home energy needs, as well as improve physical and financial circumstances. Free services will include home visits; help to claim welfare benefits and grants; community advice drop-ins and education on controlling energy use and cost.

A further £200,000 has been pledged to the Warm and Well project by partners, including Plymouth City Council. Funds will enable the installation of simple measures like draught-proofing, as well as efficient heating systems and boilers to tackle cold, damp homes.PEC launched fuel poverty outreach services for residents in 2014, and has since helped over 3000 households improve their circumstances so far. Mr Masterson* is a pensioner already benefiting and says: “PEC was the light

at the end of a very long tunnel. Everything has changed and I can now

concentrate on what is most important, my health.”

For further information on PEC’s free help and support services, their local renewable energy investment opportunities and to sign their petition, visit www.plymouthenergycommunity.com or call 01752 477117.

Members Focus

DECC IS NO MORE. NIBE’S VIEW ON THE ENERGY DEPARTMENTAL SHIFT

Prime Minister Theresa May has abolished the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as part of a major ministerial and departmental reshuffle. Energy policy will now fall under the newly created Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Phil Hurley, managing director at leading renewable heating manufacturer NIBE, brands the surprise decision as ‘unsettling’, especially in the context of the RHI – and reiterates the importance of building a market that can thrive without subsidies.

Phil comments: “The government’s announcement about the abolition of DECC was unexpected, to say the least. Following the welcome boost provided by the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2014, this decision could throw the industry into a renewed state of uncertainty. It would be wrong to say that we at NIBE have no concerns about the potential implications of this for renewable heat in the UK – particularly as it comes during a pivotal RHI consultation period. However, regardless of the political situation, the long-term cost- and energy-saving benefits of renewable heating technologies are inescapable.

“The fact remains that the UK is legally bound by statute to honour its 2030 carbon reduction targets, and technologies like heat pumps will be integral to ensuring this happens. That said, yesterday’s news does leave plenty of room for speculation about the specific focus of the government’s future energy strategy. While the prime minister made it clear in her speech that fuel security and lower bills will be key priorities, what was noticeably absent was any mention of decarbonisation – and at NIBE, we find this potentially unsettling.

“As a leading manufacturer, we urge the newly formed cabinet not to overlook the vital importance of demand-side reduction in shrinking our collective carbon footprint in line with targets. Outside Parliament, we’re asking the renewable heating industry not to lose focus. Yes, the RHI and other government initiatives have been major market drivers – but what we need to do now is pull together to ensure renewables flourish on their own merit. At NIBE, we remain fully committed to their capabilities, and their role in building a lower-carbon future for the UK.”


Members Focus

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TOTAL CARE PACKAGE BY THE ELECTRIC HEATING COMPANY HELPS TENANTS MANAGE HEATING COSTS The Total Care Package offered by The Electric Heating Company (EHC) to its registered social landlord (RSL) customers provides a comprehensive education process and support mechanism to assist tenants in controlling their electric heating and hot water resulting in a more efficient and affordable system.

What is The Total Care Package?The Total Care Package by EHC is a unique service that puts the tenant at the centre of the process when an EHC electric heating system is being installed by their RSL. With a dedicated team of customer liaison managers, EHC provides the tenant and the RSL with:

• Assistance in the initial specification of the electric heating system being installed in the property

• Assistance in completing property load checks and liaising with relevant electricity supplier responsible for the load check or mains upgrade if required

• Consideration of an appropriate electricity tariff suitable for the chosen electric heating system and the tenant’s lifestyle

• Assistance with any change of meter required if a new electricity provider and tariff is chosen by the tenant

• Onsite education to each individual tenant to ensure they understand how to operate and control the EHC electric heating system installed in their home.

Total Care Package ongoing support The Total Care Package by EHC does not finish after the installation and tenant education has been completed. EHC customer liaison managers will continue to provide ongoing support to the tenant to help monitor their electricity costs. For tenants who struggle to afford heating their home, this is an invaluable service.

Additional benefit for the RSLFor the RSL, the Total Care Package provides the additional benefit that for the entire life-time the EHC electric heating system is installed in each RSL property, the Total Care Package will continue to apply to that property. This means when a new tenant moves into the property, the EHC customer liaison manager will start the tenant education process afresh. For the RSL, the Total Care Package applies to each property and is not tenant specific.

If you are an RSL and would like more details on The Total Care Package by The Electric Heating Company please contact Calum Black, Operations Director on 01698 820 533.

PENGUINS RAISE OVER £500 FOR GREEN CHARITY

West Yorkshire energy experts, YES Energy Solutions have raised over £500 in a charity fun run by completing a 5K dressed as penguins.

YES Energy Solutions’ penguin athletes competed in the Big Fun Run challenge in Sheffield recently, having pledged their support to the international charity Renewable World. The money they have raised will go towards helping remote communities in developing nations access clean, green sustainable energy.

The team smashed their £500 fundraising target two days before the race, giving the penguins the motivation they needed to waddle over the finish line. Collectively, the team completed the 5K in less than 35 minutes, coming ahead of hundreds of competitors including a team of pixies and an elf!

Alex Krzesinski, who heads up YES Energy Solutions’ marketing team, came up with the penguin run concept. He explained: “We were keen to do a charity fundraiser but wanted to do something fun and original. Our company mascot is a penguin so it seemed like the obvious choice for a fancy dress costume.”

YES Energy Solutions is a Halifax-based community interest company committed to helping people cut their carbon footprint through heating, renewable energy and home insulation improvements. The company’s social mission is to reduce CO2 and alleviate fuel poverty.

The penguin run has helped raise awareness of the benefits of renewable energy whist helping a proactive charity support some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.

For more information about YES Energy Solutions and Renewable World visit www.yesenergysolutions.co.uk


Members Focus

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TACKLING FUEL POVERTY IN PARK HOMES

For years installers have avoided park homes due to their unfavourable funding rates and rural locations. Major energy efficiency schemes, such as ECO and Green Deal, have provided very little support in the past. What’s more, the majority of residents living in park homes are elderly with little or no disposable income. This vulnerable situation puts many of them at risk of living in fuel poverty.

To help counteract this, the award-winning community interest company, YES Energy Solutions, has teamed up with two proactive local authorities to help park home residents save energy and money.

YES Energy Solutions was successful in securing funding through NEA’s Technical Innovation Fund (TIF), a £26.2 million health and innovation programme designed to bring affordable warmth to over 6000 fuel poor and vulnerable households. It enables community-level trials of innovative solutions using measures that are not traditionally used within the scope of current fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes.

Working closely with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and North Lincolnshire Council, YES Energy Solutions implemented two pioneering park home schemes.

In the south, up to 30 park homes are having their heating facilities revamped at Attwood Close in Basingstoke. YES Energy Solutions are helping residents reap the benefits of renewable energy by fitting a series of air-to-air heat pumps. Acting like a refrigerator in reverse, air-to-air heat pumps absorb heat from the air outside and convert it into usable domestic heat.

In the north, over 35 park homes are receiving full energy efficiency makeovers. Properties at Ashfield Park in Scunthorpe are in the process of being externally clad, providing thermal efficiency and a brand new look. Several of the park homes have also had their floors insulated to help trap in even more heat.

Roy Roucher (above), an Ashfield Park resident, was delighted with the new look and feel of his property. He explained: “It does what it

says on the tin – It holds heat a lot better. The bills are all down and

it’s improved the look of the building no end. It looks like a Bungalow

now, instead of a Park Home.”

On both schemes the residents in the greatest of need were prioritised. YES Energy Solutions worked with NEA and the councils to host community events to showcase the benefits of the energy saving interventions. Residents were also given bespoke energy efficiency advice and information on the latest tariff switching opportunities. NEA are also monitoring a selection of park homes to analyse the impact of the measures being implemented. These projects have enabled Park Home residents, that haven’t been able to access support in the past, a chance to improve their quality of life. Householders have been lifted out of fuel poverty whilst embracing the benefits of a sustainable low carbon lifestyle.

Park homes (also referred to as static caravans) are some of the least energy efficient properties in the UK. Many are sited off the mains gas network and rely on expensive heating systems such as LPG boilers and electric heaters. Their thin walls provide little resistance to escaping heat, leaving the residents paying disproportionate amounts of their income on fuel.


Members Focus

PARK HOMES: A NEW LEASE OF LIFEInstaGroup, one the UK’s leading energy saving companies has developed a new, patented external wall insulation system tailored specifically for park homes to help households lower their bills and improve their household energy efficiency.

The ‘InstaClad Park Home System’ is a special adaptation of the company’s widely acclaimed all-weather solid wall insulation which is BBA approved and has a Quality Assurance Guarantee of 25 years.

Berkshire park home owner Theresa Brown (below) is among the customers whose park homes have been transformed with the new system. ‘InstaGroup’s team were excellent. They did a fantastic job. I’m really thrilled. It’s spotlessly white and everybody who visits says it’s a lovely job,’ she explains. Many park homes rely on costly LPG or electricity to heat their homes. InstaClad can save an owner more than £325* a year on heating bills. Trained installers can transform an old park home with the new insulation materials while drastically improving energy saving and the external appearance of the property. It’s estimated more than 160,000 people live in park homes in England and Wales, many of which were built before insulation standards were improved. The build quality of the older park home means they lose heat easily from all areas, leaving them damp and cold, especially in the winter months.

Many energy saving companies are not equipped to deal with the difficulties of insulating a mobile park home. One of the big challenges is avoiding adding excessive weight to the property. InstaClad is 25% lighter than other products. There is also an option to insulate floors and ceiling, if not yet insulated. Another critical issue found with double units is ensuring the jointing strip is not installed in a way that would breach the requirements of park home status. InstaClad ensures no breach is made. InstaClad uses specially engineered techniques

to ensure a speedy application, including in cold conditions, with minimum disruption onsite.

For more information, visit us at www.instagroup.co.uk or call on 0118 932 8811

*£326.40 ANNUAL BILL SAVING FOR AN 86M2 PARK HOME BUILT 1983-1995 WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS ON MAINS GAS FOR HEATING AND 100MM EXISTING LOFT INSULATION (£184.37 WALLS, £77.59 FLOOR AND £64.44 LOFT SAVINGS)

DIARY DATES29 Sep North West Fuel Debt Advice Network Meeting The LGF, Manchester

01 Nov London & South East Fuel Poverty Forum Clare Hall, Haywards Heath, West Sussex

02 Nov North East Fuel Poverty Forum Bethany City Church, Sunderland

03 Nov East Midlands Fuel Poverty Forum Ellipse Energy, Leicester

07 Nov West Midlands Fuel Poverty Forum St Martin’s in the Bull Ring, Birmingham

08 Nov Eastern Fuel Poverty Forum Norman Center, Norwich For more information and to register to

attend any of these events, go towww.nea.org.uk/events

11 Nov North West Fuel Poverty Forum Methodist Central Buildings, Manchester

18 Nov Yorkshire & the Humber Fuel Poverty Forum York CVS


Throughout the months of September and October NEA is offering a £50 discount on any training purchased as a result of an enquiry (terms apply).

NEA have been a training provider for more than 30 years offering an extensive range of training resources to cover the key issues associated with fuel poverty, fuel debt, affordable warmth and delivering practical energy advice.

Today we work with many different sectors including fuel companies, local authorities, advice agencies, health, housing associations, distribution network operators and gas distribution networks to name but a few.

NEA TRAININGspecial offer

WE OFFER4 City & Guilds

qualifications ranging from level 1 to level 3

15 short CPD certified courses

3 e-learning modules

Resources for schools and further education

Tailored courses

If you are attending our conference in Manchester this year, come along to the training stand to find out more about what we have to offer. Alternatively, please contact: Lynsey Thompson, Training Co-ordinatortelephone: 0191 269 2931e-mail: [email protected] or visit: www.nea.org.uk/training


Documents

NEA Focus - September 2016 (print final)