Project Briefing Daniel Curry Senior Energy and Fuel Poverty Officer

Collaboration between Change Agents UK, Rutland County Council and many other local charities and organisations. Funded by the LSP and the Department of Health Warm Homes Healthy People Fund. Wanted to develop a targeted fuel poverty project throughout the county. Tied together public health and environmental agendas (careful messaging). An objective to deliver more than insulation / heating upgrades; addressing fuel poverty is often more complex than simply upgrading housing stock. Overall Objectives:

Our principal service: a home energy audit Target to deliver 200 home energy audits between February and the end of April 2012

Trained assessors available to give individual advice to householders. Includes: 1)Specific information on infrastructural measures for the property in question. E.g. loft and cavity wall insulation based on SAP 2)Behavioural advice on how to use heating systems/timers/programmers/thermostats. Use of energy monitors. 3)Advice and direct help to switch energy suppliers and benefit from the cheapest tariffs available Every householder sent a follow up report on potential improvements. Re-visiting residents was common e.g. To help tariff switching. The audit process:

Firstly needed to develop a brand that could be recognised and trusted. Created a “fuel poverty hub” that consisted of local organisations with a strong interest in helping local residents e.g. Age UK, Voluntary Action Rutland, First Contact, Spire Homes (RSL), Citizens Advice Bureau etc. Used Rutland County Councils revenue and benefits data to target a mailshot to over 1100 vulnerable residents. Supplemented this approach with a communications campaign containing health and financial messaging through newspapers, local radio, posters, community groups etc. Training of front line staff visiting residents in their homes; carers, support workers, housing officers, environmental health, RSL employees Project Delivery:

Attempted to create a referral system with local GPs and surgeries, but difficult to achieve – time constraints and other pressures. Developed “warm home packs” containing information on the importance of keeping warm in the home, a room thermometer, radiator reflector panels and “shower smart” water saving shower heads. 300 distributed to doctors surgeries around the county and managed to persuade reception staff to draw people’s attention to them. Had the benefit of a handyman to undertake small jobs such as draft proofing, re-hanging doors and windows, intricate insulation jobs etc.

Project results and achievements: 203 home energy audits completed in a little under 4 months. 92% overall satisfaction rate from customer feedback survey. Completing infrastructural work alone (eg. filling cavities and topping up loft insulation) would have resulted in an average 22% reduction in fuel bills. The average amount that could be saved by switching tariffs alone was £ per year. Quantifying the benefit of behavioural advice such as teaching residents how to use heating and hot water systems is very difficult, but significant. Winner of the 2012 Community Footprint Award from National Energy Action, in association with British Gas and DECC.

Common pitfalls: 13.5% of residents were being billed on the wrong meter for electricity (economy 7 or standard). 8% of households visited had immersion water heaters turned on 24/7 for 365 days a year, even though they often also heated water with gas AND only often used the water for washing up. Lack of knowledge of how to use electric storage systems / timers on immersion heaters in partnership with economy 7. Inaccurate meters or meters wired the wrong way around! Many more examples

Moving forward: Now working with Melton Borough Council (funded by Scottish Power Energy People Trust) alongside the Rutland project (Ebico funded). Working towards a more joined-up approach between our services and healthcare professionals / frontline staff. Develop relationships with more community groups to benefit from local knowledge of potentially vulnerable residents. Train local people about the effects of fuel poverty and deliver basic energy advice. In the longer term mentor and support them; offering a home energy audit from one of the project officers if necessary. Link into the Green Deal / ECO CSCO once CERT and Warm Front cease.

Graduate Placement Scheme & Warm Homes Healthy People

Any questions? Daniel Curry Tel: or Senior Energy and Fuel Poverty Officer