Fuel poverty-London, UK focused- what is it how it can be tackled by energy efficiency etc...
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Health effects of fuel poverty,things to bear in mind when in a home, priority services register, additoional finacial assistance, grants to pay fuel debts, Home Heat Helpline
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Fuel poverty-London, UK focused- what is it how it can be tackled by energy efficiency etc...
- 1. Keeping Warm Keeping Well Fuel poverty in London and what to do about it Alex Hartley, EnergySE London Date 04/12/2013
- 2. Date A person is to be regarded as living in fuel poverty if he is a member of a household living on a lower income in a home which cannot be kept warm at a reasonable cost poor energy efficiency in the home rising fuel costs low household total income fuel poverty Definition of Fuel Poverty The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy published in 2001 sets the target of eradicating fuel poverty as far as reasonably practicable by 2016
- 3. Date
- 4. Fuel Poverty in London & UK Issues affecting all in or at risk of fuel poverty – Energy bills have risen by 37% in three years – http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/nov/16/energy-prices-rise – Fuel poverty not static and relates to changes in circumstances; retirement; baby; loss of a partner or job. In 2011/12 there were an estimated 24,000 excess winter deaths in England and Wales. Best estimated contribute about 8000 of these related to fuel poverty directly but depends on who you ask!
- 5. Health Effects of Fuel Poverty Cardio-vascular disease • A rise in blood pressure during the cold increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Respiratory Illness • The cold lowers resistance to respiratory infections. • Coldness impairs lung function and can trigger broncho-constriction in asthma and COPD. • Dampness is associated with cold houses; damp increases mould growths which can cause asthma and respiratory infections. • School sickness in children with asthma or recurrent respiratory infections Mobility, increased falls and non-intentional injuries • Symptoms of arthritis become worse in cold damp houses. • Strength and dexterity decrease as temperatures drop, increasing the risk of non-intentional injuries. • A cold house increases the risk of falls in the elderly Mental and social health • Damp, cold housing is associated with an increase in mental health problems. • Some people become socially isolated as they are reluctant to invite friends round to a cold house. • In cold homes where only one room is heated, it is difficult for children to do homework, affecting educational and long-term work and health opportunities.
- 6. RoomTemperatures Date Above 18°C (64oF) : No adverse health effects Below 16°C (61oF) : Risk of respiratory infections Below 12°C (54oF) : Increased blood pressure Below 9°C (48oF) : Deep body temperature falls Ideal room temperatures: Living room 21o C Kitchen 18o C Bathroom 22o C Bedrooms 18o C Hall / Stairs 16o C (World Health Organisation statistics) Following cold weather an increase in heart attacks, stroked and respiratory illness can be predicted after 2, 5 and 12 days respectively. (Eurowinter Group, 1997) Health Effects of Fuel Poverty
- 7. Things to bear in mind when in a home If appropriate when you visit a client take a minute to consider... • Has there been a change in circumstance? • Do you feel cold when you enter the home? • Can you see damp or mould growth? • Is the whole home heated? • What is your client wearing? • What is the main heating source? • Is this a client that would be susceptible to the cold? If appropriate ask them if they are keeping warm, if they feel that they are managing their heating costs... Date
- 8. Energy Efficiency Advice Date Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) DECC has produced an advice leaflet about saving energy in the home, the grants and assistance available for consumers: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254487/Help ing_consumers_with_energy.pdf
- 9. Priority Service Register The Priority Service Register provides a range of support services for vulnerable utility customers who are: ● over 60 ● chronically sick ● disabled ● people with hearing or visual impairments The free services are: ● password protection scheme ● conveniently located prepayment meters ● regular meter readings ● bill nominee scheme ● advance notice of electricity supply interruption ● services for those with hearing and visual impairments Date
- 10. Priority Service Register These services are only available if you have a domestic mains gas or electricity supply. To sign up contact your supplier. British Gas Home Energy Care Register 0800 072 8625 EDF Energy Priority Service Register 0800 269 450 NPower Warm Response Service 0800 022 220 E.ON Priority Service Register 0800 051 1480 Scottish Power CareFree 0800 027 1122 Southern Electric Careline 0800 622 838 Good Energy 0845 601 1410 or 01249 766 090 If you buy your gas or electricity from a utility company not listed above contact your utility company using the number provided on your bill to enquire if they offer the priority service register. Date
- 11. Additional Financial Assistance The Warm Home Discount Scheme 2013/14 provides eligible recipients with a £135 rebate on their electricity bill. To check if you qualify contact your utility for electricity or visit: http://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme The Winter Fuel Payment 2011/12 provides the over 60s with a payment of £200 and the over 80s will receive £300. For information call the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on: 08459 151515 or visit: http://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment Benefit Entitlement Checks and rants Turn2us 0808 802 2000 Date
- 12. Grants to pay fuel debts Fuel debt grants are awarded to: • Clear domestic gas and electricity debts • Clear other priority debts, including water and sewerage (known as Further Assistance Payments (FAP) • Purchase essential household items (FAP) To apply for a fuel debt grant contact Charis Tel: 01733 421 021 E-mail: admin@charisgrants.com Web: http://www.charisgrants.com/ The Citizens Advice Energy Fuel Debt Advisor in local areas can assist with grant applications. Phone: 08444 771 611 Date
- 13. Date The helpline advises British energy customers worried about paying their fuel bill and keeping warm during the winter. It also gives advice to low-income households in urgent need of heating help and advice. The Home Heat Helpline is open from 9am-5.30pm Monday to Friday To speak to an advisors call freephone: 0800 33 66 99 If you have difficulty hearing you can use the minicom service on: 0800 027 2122
- 14. Alex Hartley EnergySE London Coop E-mail: solar.coop.se@gmail.com Telephone: 07717050705 Date
Editor's Notes
- Name is…. Housing Profile of Westminster housing stock Talk about EE measures that can be installed in your home Let you know what services and grants are available to Westminster residents
- NOTES: Poverty and social exclusion are complex issues but the causes of fuel poverty can at least be put in a few stark statements. Income Low household income is the first major factor that can contribute to fuel poverty. The costs of heating a property form a greater proportion of total income for those on low incomes - where does keeping warm come on your list of priorities if you are struggling to feed and clothe your family and keep a roof over your heads? Fuel costs Fuel costs are the second major factor that can affect the numbers of people suffering from fuel poverty. Higher prices reduce the affordability of fuel. Prices of different types of fuels can vary considerably, and the availability of different fuels in different areas, and of different types of heating systems, can affect the ability of consumers to exercise choice. Energy efficiency The energy efficiency of the home is the third major factor that can result in fuel poverty. The thermal quality of the building and the efficiency of the heating source determine the amount of energy that must be purchased to heat the home adequately. Insulation – many homes do not/ cannot benefit from insulation to keep the heat in. Heating - Millions of homes in the UK don’t have proper heating provisions or possess the basic measures to control how much and where they heat Appliances – many heating systems and other domestic appliances are old and inefficient so cost more to run. There are also many other outward and less visible signs of fuel poverty in homes and within communities so this list is by no means comprehensive – e.g. fuel debt, disconnections, poor energy performance of housing, usage of pre-payment meters and so on. However all of these factors may impact on the health of occupants.
- 2nd highest borough in London. Data from our house conditions survey in 2001 estimates higher incidence of fuel poverty. The GLA estimate that the figure for London was around 24% in 2008 due to London’s high housing costs.
- Slide shows the health effects of being in a room at various temperatures Set thermostat between 18 and 22 degrees good setting for most people. Comfortable Temp below 16 degrees become more susceptible to colds or flus and respiratory infections Temp below 12 degrees – increased blood pressure Temp below 9 degrees body temp falls and at risk of hypothermia In order to keep healthy and warm within your home the WHO have recommended the ideal room temps Bathroom highest for obvious reasons Living room at 21 – most likely to be doing a passive activity -stiing reading, watching tv listening to music so need reasonably high temp. I’ve brought along some room thermometers – can place in most occupied room in an area that’s representative of the room temp and check that – adjust your radiators accordingly Question: What temperatures are sufficient to maintain health and comfort levels? There are no legal minimum room temperatures but most of us probably have our central heating thermostat set at between 18 and 22oC. Generally, as long as we stay above 18oC (64oF) we are comfortable and our health is not deemed at risk. The effects of being in low temperatures for long periods begin to become apparent at temperatures below 16oC (61oF), with reduced resistance to respiratory and other viral or bacterial infections – people may become more susceptible to colds or flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Below 12oC (54oF) blood thickens, leading to increases in blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke in vulnerable people. After more than 2 hours at below 9oC (48oF) deep body temperature falls and the body can no longer function correctly increasing the risk of hypothermia (although thankfully this is increasingly rare) and increasing the risk of household accidents and falls in the home. Collins, KJ (1986) Low indoor temperatures and morbidity in the elderly, Age and Ageing 15(4):212-220 To help maintain health and comfort in the home we should all be looking to keep our homes at, or around, those temperatures shown here. Living rooms 21 degrees celsius…. This is especially important for households deemed vulnerable who may require higher temperatures. Interestingly enough, homes warmer than the temperatures shown an also lead to health problems so we need to be equally interested in this factor. Please also note that adequate domestic ventilation is also necessary to alleviate damp air within the home. There are many frightening statistics regarding fuel poverty. Perhaps the most start are that in 2006-07 there was 23,900 excess winter mortality deaths in Britain. The cost of treating people affected by the cold is estimated to £1billon p/a for the NHS. In Britain, we can predict when excess winter deaths will occur after a cold day: - 2 days:heart attacks - 5 days: strokes - 12 days: respiratory illness (Eurowinter Group, 1997) One of the indicators of fuel poverty is the winter death rates and figures released by the Office of National Statistics reveals that during the winter of 2001/2002 there were approximately 27,300 excess winter deaths, compared to 24,840 in the previous winter. The lowest record is for 1997/98 with an estimated 22,900. Highest record is 1999/2000 with 48,440. Just over half of winter deaths are over 85’s. Help the Aged points out the winter kills eight times more people than road accidents without attracting nearly the same degree of public attention and concern. Not surprisingly, in most north European countries more people die in the 4 months Dec to March than during the rest of the year. BUT this “excess mortality” is considerably higher in the UK at 14% than other countries - typically 4-7% and even Siberia has a lower rate. Winter cold kills 300 people per day (in the UK) on average, most of them elderly. Research shows that virtually all households in northern countries like Germany and Holland are able to heat their homes adequately, however, in the UK, for every degree change in the average winter temperature, there is a rise or fall in the number of winter deaths by about 8,000. Since winter 1994/95, excess winter deaths in England have not been lower than 22,900 per year (and a very high proportion of those are people over 65). Contributing factors include low income, inefficient heating systems, external temperature fluctuations, and excessive dampness and mould growth associated with poor housing stock.
- Warm and Healthy Homes Advice Line Target – 500 residents Warm and Healthy Homes Caseworker Home visits for vulnerable Funding – NHS Westminster Benefit entitlement check – EE of your home Reducing the cost of fuel bills – information about social tariffs Social tariffs – all energy providers have to offer social tariffa to most vulnerable customers. Ofgem rule is that all social tariffs have to be energy supplier’s cheapest tariff. Fuel switching (so changing fuel supplier), winter fuel payment – should automatically receive winter fuel payment if over 60 and in receipt of benefit. If don’t think you are in receipt of winter fuel payment and want to check eligibility ring 0845 915 15 15. Payments range between £250 and £400, depending upon circumstances.