Affordable Warmth & Fuel Poverty

What does it really mean?

Simply put, a household is described as being in fuel poverty if they need to spend more than 10% of their total income on heating their home and powering their appliances. Fuel poverty is sometimes mistakenly thought to cover only the cost of heating, but in fact, it means the total amount spent on heating and electricity.

More and more of our citizens are falling into this group as energy becomes increasingly expensive. Over 4,000,000 in England are now identified as living in fuel poverty (based on 2009 estimates).

Fuel poverty particularly affects more vulnerable households e.g. older people, younger children, disabled and long-term sick, but it also affects working people and families too.

Causes of fuel poverty

• Low income,
• Increasing cost of energy (since 2003 the cost of gas has increased by 146% and electricity by 98% according to the ONS, based on the RPI), and both are still rising,
• Leaky buildings and inadequate or missing insulation,
• Inefficient or inappropriate heating systems e.g using expensive plug-in radiators to heat a large house,
• Rural issues such as being off the gas grid, higher transport costs and the cost of heating oil,
• Under occupancy (i.e. if only one person lives in a large house, heating the house still costs the same as it would if more people lived there and could contribute to the cost.),
• Under-claiming benefits - You can check which benefits you are entitled to on line by clicking this link: benefits checker.

Effects

• Health effects - people are more vulnerable to suffering from cold-related illnesses (each year more than 25,000 people aged over 65 die in winter months, compared to warmer months, these are known as 'excess winter deaths' and are linked to insufficient heating and poor insulation).
• Cold, damp and draughty homes, which may cause environmental health effects such as mould.
• People are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating well, particularly in winter.
• Social exclusion
• Under-heating damages the fabric of homes, making them harder to heat.
• Educational impact on young people (it's hard to study or do homework in a cold, draughty house)

How to identify/spot problems

With rising fuel prices many people are finding keeping warm more difficult. If you are finding it harder to afford to keep your home warm or if you need to spend more than 10% of your income on energy, then it's worthwhile seeing if you can get support to try and reduce your energy bills.

Reducing your bills can be done in three ways:

1. Changing your tariff or supplier so that your per-unit price is lower,
2. Changing how you use energy (behavioural changes), or by
3. Increasing the energy efficiency of your home through insulation or heating improvements.

There is more information on how you could reduce your energy needs on the energy saving advice page for individuals - covering both behaviour change and efficiency improvements to your home.  If you can't afford to make improvements, much of the information below could help you.

Have a look at the tips below to see if you could benefit.

How to help:

- Individual/self

• Eat and drink for warmth - Regular hot meals and hot drinks provide warmth and energy when you need it. But remember to boil just the amount of water you need.
• Keep moving - Any activity, even vacuuming, gets circulation going and makes you feel warmer. So plan to do chores throughout the day.
• Dress appropriately - Wrap up appropriately, indoors and out, remember several layers of thin clothing are better than one thick jumper in trapping heat.
• Keep your home at the right temperature - Hang thermometers in the living room and bedroom and keep your home between 18 and 21^o C (65 and 72^o F).
• Keep warm at night - Wearing the right clothing to bed is as important as wrapping up outdoors. Don't forget to draw curtains at night to keep in the warmth.
• Sleep with your windows closed - Cold air on the head at night can increase blood pressure increasing the risk of stroke or heart attacks.
• Let damp air out - Open vents or windows at least once a day and keep lids on pans to prevent condensation and mould growth. Warm air will hold more moisture than cold.
• Click this link for more energy saving tips. Remember, the more energy you save, the more it will save you money.

Free or discounted Insulation schemes

Good levels of insulation traps heat in your home like a blanket - it includes loft, cavity wall, solid wall and floor as well as draught-proofing. Insulation can lower your bills by up to £265. If you're over 70 insulation is free, for everyone else there are other free schemes and discounted insulation. It's not rocket science, but it does keep you warmer!

You can find out more by calling the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 012 512 (from a landline) or by clicking this link Grants and Discounts, or by email to advice@energypartnership.org.uk.

Warm Front scheme

Qualifying households can get improvements worth up to £3,500 (£6,000 where oil central heating and other alternative technologies are recommended).

Grants are available for improvements such as:

• loft insulation
• draughtproofing
• cavity wall insulation
• hot water tank insulation
• gas, electric, liquid petroleum gas or oil heating
• glass-fronted fire - the Warm Front scheme can convert your solid-fuel open fire to a glass-fronted fire.

You won't have to pay anything as long as the work doesn't cost more than the grant available. If the cost of the work is more than the grant available you'll have to make a contribution to enable work to go ahead. Work will not start without making sure you are willing and able to pay the difference.

The scheme is now targeted at people on certain income-related benefits and living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system. You must own your home or rent it from a private landlord.

Give Warm Front a call on 0800 316 2805, or you can find out more by clicking this link: Warm Front.

Fuel tariffs and getting the best deal

You could also save money by switching your energy supplier. This is not as complicated as it might seem, and could save you up to £100 a year. Find out more by clicking this link: Switching Energy Suppliers.

Additionally, paying energy bills by direct debit or using an online tariff You can find more advice by clicking this link: Tips to reduce your bills.

Fuel debt - avoiding and advice

Role of community groups

Community groups, neighbourhood teams, church groups and others are a good way to develop and promote activities which help make energy more affordable. This could include raising awareness of energy efficiency grants and potential cost savings to local people as well as establishing new schemes like oil co-operatives and promoting new renewable technologies like solar water heating. Have a look at the Community Groups page in the climate change and sustainability section.

Hotspots

Hotspots brings together three useful services for older and more vulnerable people: fire safety, energy efficiency and making sure you're accessing all the benefits you're entitled too. This means by going through one service you can get three things done at once. You can arrange a Hotspots referral by calling the Energy Saving Trust advice centre free on 0800 012 512 (from a landline) or by email to advice@energypartnership.org.uk.

Oil clubs

Oil clubs run in rural locations where many homes don't get mains gas. They are organised by groups of local people who agree to purchase heating oil in bulk together, meaning they take advantage of lower per unit prices.  Secondarily, they can also become bulk-buying or information sharing routes for energy saving information to help you need to buy oil less often.

If you are worried that you wouldn't be able to take part in an oil buying group because you need to pay a monthly amount, North Yorkshire Credit Union may be able to help you, so that you can take advantage of lower prices. You can find out more about their services by calling them on 01904 676633, by email to office@nycu.org.uk or by their website www.nycu.org.uk.

If there isn't an oil club in your community, and you would like to start one, you can find out more about setting up a scheme in your area by contacting Kathryn Chapman of Rural Action Yorkshire (RAY) on kathryn.chapman@ruralyorkshire.org.uk, and looking at RAYs page on Oil Clubs, or the Citizens' Advice Bureau's page on oil clubs which has a user-friendly video on how oil clubs work. There are a number of such clubs already in operation across Hambleton and Richmondshire that you can be put in touch with for advice.  If you'd like to discuss issues with someone, then Rosie Hughes of Yorkshire Energy Partnership has experience of setting them up in the North York Moors and can be contacted on 01904 554408.

Contacts and Links

- Energy Saving Trust: 0800 512 012
- National Energy Action
- North Yorkshire Credit Union: 01904 676633
- Yorkshire Energy Partnership: 01904 554406
- Citizens advice bureau
- Warm Front: 0800 316 2805