E.ON Key Account Managers - ALEO · 1 2 Welcome to Carbon Action News Welcome to the second edition...

Scotland Tom Litster0789 429 [email protected]

North WestDave Ward0787 980 [email protected]

Yorkshire & North EastAlistair MacKenzie0775 389 [email protected]

Midlands & WalesAllan Clews0775 389 [email protected]

East Midlands & East AngliaLisa Sims0773 661 [email protected]

West & North London M4 CorridorShirley Goodey0779 364 [email protected]

South & East London South EastDavid Blowers0771 765 [email protected]

South West London South WestDiane Paris-Hunter0784 300 [email protected]

Northern Ireland HECA Advisory Panel Representative: Noel RiceTel: 02890 [email protected]

Scottish HECA Officers’ NetworkRepresentative: Stephen Cunningham

Tel: 01506 [email protected]

E.ON Key Account Managers

Chair: Revathi BTel: 0161 342 2557

[email protected] Chair / Secretariat: Alison Hartley

Tel: 0161 242 5810 [email protected]

Chair: Steve MartinTel: 01443 864645

[email protected] Chair: Leanna Jones

01352 [email protected]

Secretariat: Erica MasonTel: 01633 223111

[email protected]

Chair: Rachel JonesTel: 01789 [email protected] Chair: Tom WinckleyTel: 01902 [email protected] Secretariat: Deborah GabbayTel: 0121 543 [email protected]

Chair: Colin AndersonTel: 01752 307176 [email protected] Chair: Erica Pretty Tel: 01202 [email protected]: Emma.QuestTel: 0175 [email protected]

Chair: John MathersTel: 0208 489 [email protected] Chair: Jo GillTel: 01895 [email protected]: Sarah HitchcockTel: 0845 450 3375 [email protected]

Interim Chair & Vice Chair: Richard Smith Tel: 01302 [email protected]: Simon TaoTel: 01422 [email protected]

Chair: Kathy AlcockTel: 01892 554275 [email protected]: Clare Everett Tel: 0207 922 [email protected]

Chair: Denise MarsdonTel: 0115 959770

[email protected] Chair / Representative: Dave Malone

Tel: 01327 [email protected]

Secretariat: Helen Atkins Tel: 0116 299 5133

[email protected]

Chair: Andy StephensonTel: 0191 [email protected]: Ian Bloomfield Tel: [email protected]: Wendi Wheeler Tel: 01642777970 [email protected]

Chair: Julia BlackwellTel: 01480 [email protected]: Steve Adelizzi Tel: 01279 [email protected]: Bruce PittingaleTel: 05602 [email protected]

Chair: Oliver MyersTel: 0207 [email protected] Chair: Andy StephensonTel: 0191 [email protected]: Helen AtkinsTel: 0116299 5133 [email protected]

1 2

Welcome to Carbon Action NewsthWelcome to the second edition of Carbon Action News - the 24

issue since this magazine was first published under the name of HECA Network News.

The Carbon Action Network has recently been hitting the exhibi-tion trail to raise the profile of our newly rebranded organisation and find delegates for our own Conference in May (see page 7 for details). Of course we take along the mandatory supply of energy efficient compact flourescent lamps (CLFs) as a freebie to entice delegates to the stand. We’ve found that many individuals, mainly from non energy related fields, are still harboring the prejudices against CFL technology that I for one hoped had died out years ago. To set the record straight, the following is a myth busting rant against the diehard flourescophobes.

Firstly, modern CFLs are available in all shapes and sizes to fit almost anywhere an incandescent bulb could. They’re also available in all sorts of colours from warm candlelight to daylight. Recently the Energy Saving Trust carried out a test on members of the public; most people couldn’t tell the difference between CLFs and incan-descent bulbs and 64% actually preferred the CFL.

Secondly, although CFLs contain mercury this can be recaptured when they’re recycled. When compared to the extra mercury from fossil fuels that would be emitted into the atmosphere if we were to keep using incandescent bulbs, CFLs actually result in fewer mercury emissions. You can recycle them at your local waste disposal centre or just take them along to IKEA for recycling, even if you didn’t buy the bulb there. If a bulb breaks in your house follow the appropriate advice for safe disposal but keep in mind that the risk to your health is extremely low.

Thirdly, CFLs are now available that will work with conventional dim-mer switches. They can be bought for around £10 but are cheaper to run than even standard CFLs if used at a dimmed level. Non-dimmable CFLs are also a lot cheaper than many people seem to think and are available for under a pound. It’s often been pointed out that if CFLs came with a £50 note in every box - which is roughly how much you’ll save over the lifetime of the bulb - people would-n’t be so worried about the upfront cost anyway!

Many also argue that when incandescent bulbs produce heat they are saving work for your central heating system. While this has some truth, the location and timing of light use doesn’t often coor-dinate with when and where heat is desired, so it’s generally wasted energy.

Now that incandescent bulbs are being phased out in shops, hopefully people will realise they can easily do without them. In the very rare cases where people have genuine medical reasons to avoid CFLs, alternatives such as tungsten halogens, electron-stimulated luminescent bulbs and LEDs are available and, as a last resort, incandescents could even perhaps be made available on prescription.

LEDs will soon light the way to a new revolution in bulb technology but for now CFLs are still the best bet!

- Rob Leeson, Carbon Action Network

Carbon Action News is the quarterly news magazine of the Carbon Action Network

and was formerly known as HECA Network News

Past issues of Carbon Action News and HECA Network News can

be downloaded from www.carbonactionnetwork.org.uk

Please send any news items, articles or pictures that you would like

to see in Carbon Action News to: Helen Atkins at the

Carbon Action Network Secretariat - [email protected]

Tel: 0116 299 51332-4 Market Place South,

Leicester, LE1 5HB

Devon Warm Zone

Devon Warm Zones is a project to

encourage and help householders

across the county access grants and

discounts for insulation and heating. The

service includes a free home energy

survey, a benefit entitlement check and

free or heavily discounted home

insulation.

The project is a collaboration involving

E.ON, all ten local authorities in Devon

and Devon County Council. One of the

major achievements of the scheme has

been getting such a large number of

local authority bodies working together.

In fact, the scheme comprises the largest

such alliance in the country. Each local

authority has chosen a “Warm Zone” which is an

area where extra resources are targeted at

householders to make residents aware of the

advice and financial help for which they are

eligible.

The combination of local council endorsement

and E.ON's vast experience in running schemes

intended to help the vulnerable, makes for an

effective relationship. E.ON is providing funding

and management for the installation of the

energy efficiency measures, with West Country

Energy Action providing local campaign

coordination and advice.

Colin Anderson from Warm Zones, who was

instrumental in setting up the scheme in the

autumn of 2007, explains how Warm Zones

differs from other CERT funded schemes that are

around. “Whilst everybody can benefit from the

scheme, it is targeted geographically to those

that really need the support. We involve people

who are trusted within hard-to-reach

communities, whether these be ethnic groups,

faith groups or people with disabilities. Our

objective is to build on the strength of the

community relationships, and to establish a

small network of community leaders to

introduce and help people sign up for the

scheme.”

Partner organisations which are helping to

promote the scheme to their community or

clients include Devon Primary Care Trust, Plymouth

Primary Care Trust, Devon and Cornwall

Constabulary, Devon and Somerset Fire and

Rescue Service, Age Concern, South West Pound,

Care and Repair, the Citizens Advice Bureau, and

m a n y m o r e c o m m u n i t y a n d v o l u n t a r y

organisations. The scheme has also been promoted

through TV advertising, posters and a user-friendly

website:

www.devonwarmzones.org.uk.

The Community Energy Efficiency Fund's support,

which got the project underway in April 2008, runs

for three years and Colin Anderson is hopeful that

further funding will be secured during 2009 to

enable Devon Warm Zones to offer more products

such as renewables and solid wall insulation.

Comprehensive support and information is

available for organisations who would like to

introduce their community to help from Devon

Warm Zones, including leaflets for clients, referral

cards, promotional merchandise such as mugs and

t-shirts, and regular newsletter bulletins. And for

every fuel poor or vulnerable household referred

that has cavity wall or loft insulation installed, there is

a 'community reward' which is an incentive that can

be used to benefit the community or a local cause

of their choice.

For more information about Devon Warm Zones,

and to find out how to become involved please visit

the website www.devonwarmzones.org.uk or email

[email protected].

CAN stand visits

UKPHA ConferenceOn 24 March, Helen Atkins and Rob Leeson

took the Carbon Action Network Exhibition thStand to Brighton for the 17 UK Public Health

Association Conference.

Entitled ‘Health Inequalities - Turning the Tide?

Spotlight on Housing, Transport and Comm-

issioning’ this event was an excellent

opportunity for CAN to create new links within

the health sector, stressing CAN’s remit on fuel

poverty and effects of climate change on

health. CAN was also promoting the Carbon

Action Network Conference on 14 and 15 May

2009 (see page 7).

Warmer future for

Warwickshire villagersHouseholders in the Warwickshire village of

Lighthorne Heath now have a more

environmentally friendly future thanks to E.ON.

Following a successful social housing scheme

in which the company installed discounted

HeatPlant systems (E.ON's ground source heat

pump) in 62 homes, private residents were

invited to an E.ON hosted community event

which led to a further 13 HeatPlant units being

installed. For the homes which previously relied

on coal-fired boilers to generate their heat

and hot water, switching to HeatPlant has

reduced their CO emissions by almost three 2

quarters and their heating and hot water costs 1by two thirds .

A HeatPlant works by extracting heat from the

ground and then using this heat to run

conventional radiators. As one happy resident

Mrs Lawson explains, “Now there's nothing to

do. We get up and it's hot. We go to bed and

it's hot. We can have the heating on when we

want, and turn it off when we don't want it. No

coals or ashes to worry about, no dirt or mess to

clean up, it's brilliant.”

A HeatPlant normally costs up to £11,500 to

install, but is available free across the UK

(excluding Northern Ireland) to private

tenants or homeowners, not on the mains gas

network but with coal-heated homes, and 2who are in receipt of means-tested benefits .

A minimum of six neighbouring properties is

needed to get a scheme up and running, so if

you think you may have suitable housing that

you'd like to improve at no cost, please

contact your E.ON Key Account Manager

(see back cover for details). 21. Cost savings and CO reductions are based on a 100m 2

house correct as at 28 October 2008. HeatPlant consumption figures used for calculations are sourced from E.ON product monitoring from 2003 to present and industry averages for comparable houses using coal. Consumption includes heating and hot water. Figures are 73% CO savings and 66% reduction 2

in heating and hot water costs.

2. Qualifying benefits include; Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit (not including single occupancy reduction), Income-based Jobseeker's Al lowance, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, State Pension Credit, War Disablement Pension (which must include mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance), Disablement Pension Credit (which must include constant attendance allowance), Child Tax Credit (where the relevant income is less than £15,592), Working Tax Credit (where the relevant income is less than £15,592).

Your country needs you East Midlands residents believe a wartime spirit

should be embraced to cut down on waste

The majority of East Midlands’ residents believe

the country should once again embrace the

wartime spirit in an effort to cut down on waste,

according to research from the Energy Saving

Trust, the UK’s leading organisation set up to help

people fight climate change.

The UK-wide survey was commissioned as part of

the new Energy Saving Trust Wartime Spirit

campaign, which was launched on April 2, 2009.

The campaign aims to highlight how people in

the East Midlands can take the best from the past

to get tips on how to reduce waste and save

energy.

Sixty-eight per cent of people polled in the East

Midlands thought local communities should work

together more to help manage resources similar

to the communal nature of the wartime effort, for

example, by sharing leftover food with

neighbours or car sharing.

And over half (55 per cent) of East Midlands

respondents thought measures such as rationing

or personal daily allowances were needed to

help the British public cut down on excess.

A range of age groups took part in the survey

which found that 81 per cent of those in the East

Midlands who lived during the Second World War

– 80 years old and over – revealed they are

carrying on the war time values they learned.

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving

Trust, said: “We are certainly not advocating a

return to rationing or indeed enforced personal

daily allowances. However if we could adopt just a

few of the practices used during the war, such as

recycling bath water for watering plants, then it

would go a long way towards saving energy and

reducing our carbon footprint.

“East Midlands’ residents who lived through the

Second World War were extremely resilient in the

face of extreme hardship. People had very little but

they made do. Everyone you speak to who lived

through the war always speaks about how they

came up with extremely ingenious ways to make

life’s essentials – food and clothing go that little bit

further.

“We can now see an age of ‘thrift being the new

thrust’ and ‘frugality the new frontier’.”

The Energy Saving Trust has teamed up with the

Imperial War Museum for the Wartime Spirit

campaign. The museum holds a wealth of material

relating to the Second World War and visitors can

explore a life-size recreation of a wartime house and

draw inspiration for low-cost living, 1940s-style.

Juliet Gardiner, author of Wartime: Britain 1939-1945,

said: “We could certainly learn a thing or two about

how to cut down on waste from people who had to

live for nearly six years with the essentials of daily life

such as food, clothes and fuel rationed during the

Second World War.

“During the war everyone was encouraged to ‘make

do and mend’ and considering the shortages and

what was available to housewives as a result of

rationing and the points system they managed to

come up with some pretty amazing recipes to feed

their families .

“It is interesting that according to this research over

half of the people in the East Midlands think a return to

a Second World War approach to using resources

could help curb waste. And it would be even more

interesting to see how people adapted to it.”

The survey was conducted by researchers ICM. It also

found that:

! 78 per cent of East Midlands residents use leftovers

to make the following day’s meal;

! In the East Midlands, eighty-two per cent repair

items of clothing, for example sew on a button or zip

or darn a sock.

Of those polled in the East Midlands who were 80

years old or older:

! Eighty-one per cent say they are carrying on the

tips and values they picked up during the Second

World War

! 92 per cent think younger generations are more

wasteful than their own generation

For more wartime tips visit:

www.est.org.uk/Media/Corporate-Media/Media-

centre-images-docs/Wartime-spirit-campaign

3 4

Students become

Energy ChampionsOver 100 young people from six secondary schools in

Gloucestershire have been trained in Energy

Efficiency measures and have presented their

recommendations and Energy Efficiency campaigns

for their school at one of three events in

Gloucestershire.

The students also learnt about Sustainable Build

Design from the Director of Cube Design Ltd, the

architect in charge of the new builds at Cleeve

School, Cheltenham and Rednock School, Dursley.

These events were part of the YEP! (Young Energy

People!) Project which aims to increase secondary

school students' knowledge and practical

experience in sustainable energy issues. The project is

run by Severn Wye Energy Agency and has helped

the students to carry out an energy survey of their

school and produce a professional energy report. The

students are now implementing an Action Plan and

taking responsibility for reducing the energy use in

their schools. Students have the experience to advise

businesses on energy use and will be conducting work

placements in the summer term. Rachel Close, Senior

Project Manager at SWEA said “We are really

impressed by the standard and dedication of the

students and teachers taking part. We are sure that

these events and their project work will widen their

perspectives on the benefits and opportunities avail-

able through sustainable energy related skills'

The first event “Sharing Findings & Sustainable Build”

took place on Tuesday 10 March between 11.45am

and 2.10pm. The afternoon was hosted by Farmor's

School, Fairford where the students have made

significant progress by presenting their findings to

governors and the school have already begun to

implement recommendations. Students from Cleeve

School were invited to present and compare their

experiences to date and gain a valuable insight in to

the future of sustainable build from Jane Lock-Smith,

Director of Cube Design Ltd. Additional events took

place at Severn Vale School (visited by Rednock

School) on 12 March 2009 and Tewkesbury School

(visited by Stroud High School) on 17 March 2009.

Emma Jackson a member of the Rednock School

Energy Management Team said “The event was

very interesting, and everybody learnt a lot from it.

Everyone took back new and fresh ideas to make

their projects better.”

Simon Ditchfield, YEP! Project Co-ordinator at

Farmor's School said “Farmor's school is committed

to environmental issues and the YEP! Project is ideal

to enhance this. The project offers practical benefits

that students can feel a part of to help reduce

energy waste and costs to the school plus the

environment at large. The students who are taking

part are enjoying the project plus learning lots of

useful skills that extend beyond the YEP project such

as public speaking, interview skills, team working

and research skills. The project has been a great

experience so far and has really sparked the interest

of the students, staff and governors to commit to

making steps towards a more sustainable future”

For more information, contact: Victoria Dinwoodie

01452 835071, [email protected]

5

Warmer Homes - Easier Breathing pilot projectThe pilot project ran from August 2007 until March 2008 and its aim was to improve the quality of housing from a health perspective of asthmatic children up to 11 years old living in areas where there are high levels of health inequalities and deprivation. Installing heat recovery ventilation units in the homes together with a package of energy efficiency improvements and cleaning measures in order to reduce conditions that encourage house dust mite populations and poten-tially improve the quality of life of asthma sufferers.

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways and there are over 5 million people in the UK currently receiving treatment for asthma. Respiratory disease is the most common cause of emergency admission in Sefton for children and young people with 1,300 emergency admissions per year.

High humidity levels are often the result of insufficient heating and/or certain styles of housing. House dust mites thrive at high humidity levels and their allergens can trigger asthma attacks. The main food source of house dust mites is human skin scales and heavily used soft furnishings, mattresses and bedding can provide a perfect environment for them to multiply.

There are a high number of older, sold walled properties in Sefton that are classed as hard to heat. These households can be disproportionately affected by fuel poverty. Fuel poverty is defined as a household needing to spend more than 10% of its income to adequately heat the home. The causes are due to a combination of low household income, poor insulation standards, expensive or inadequate heating systems and high fuel prices. Those affected tend to be older people, lone parents with young children and those with long term illnesses. Living in a cold, damp home can exacerbate circulatory and respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and stroke.

The project lead worked closely with a Public Health Nurse from NHS Sefton (Primary Care Trust) who provided a strong link to other health professionals including three GP practices who assisted in the identification of families who fulfilled the eligibility criteria to be invited to join the project. 13 families joined the project with a total of 16 asthmatic children.

The project lead visited each family to carry out an initial assessment and complete a baseline questionnaire. A dust sample was carried out at each family home to determine a high, medium or low level, before any work was carried out. Each property was assessed for its current level of energy efficiency

and heating and where necessary loft insulation was topped up to 12 inches, cavity wall insulation installed and improvements to heating system as relevant. A heat recovery ventilation unit was installed in each property and a professional cleaning company carried out a specialist steam clean of the homes.

Once the existing allergen reservoir had been removed following the programme of work, new bedding was provided for the asthmatic child and any sibling sharing a bedroom. Families completed monthly questionnaires to report any improvements or comments and the findings were collated at the end of the project.

Direct Benefits:

! Improved energy efficiency in homes reduced fuel

bills

! 62% reduction in night time coughing

! 49% reduction in sleep disturbance

! 57% reduction in school absence

! 53% reduction in 'blue' inhaler usage

! 76% drop in unplanned attendance in A&E / Walk-in

centres

! Increased confidence to take part in physical

activity (i.e. PE, playing outdoors)

! Two families were referred for welfare benefit

checks to maximise their income - one family was

awarded low rate care component Disability Living

Allowance and Disabled Child Premium resulting in

an additional £66.47 per week

! Two parents were referred to smoking cessation

support service / smoke free homes

Indirect Benefits:

! Increased awareness/understanding amongst

health professionals of the links between poor

housing and the wider determinants of ill health

! Parents reported a decrease in the need for

antibiotic medication during the winter period

compared to the same time last year

! Stronger cross working partnership working

! One of the siblings reported improvement in eczema

skin condition

Due to the success of the pilot project, continuation

funding has been awarded by the Primary Care Trust to

extend the project until 2011. In order to engage with

the most severe asthma sufferers, we are developing

referral routes via Health Visiting professionals and

anticipate that we will be able to assist 10-12 families

per year under the scheme.

- Debbie Phillips,Affordable Warmth Co-ordinator

Sefton Council Energy Team

6

8

The Carbon Action Network Conference 2009

Conference Programme

Pre-conference evening - 13 May 2009

Conference Day 1 - 14 May 2009 Plenary Session Programme

Evening Programme

Conference Day 2 - 15 May 2009 Plenary Session Programme

Previously known as the National Home Energy Conference, this will be the first Conference under UK HECA’s new identity, the Carbon Action Network. For delegate and exhibition prices and to book your place please visit: www.carbonactionnetwork.org.uk/conference.

(Please note that the organisers reserve the right to changespeakers, timings and any other aspect of the programme at any time.)

21:00 Pre-conference networking event with drinks reception

Time Programme Item Speaker09:30 Coffee, registration & exhibition viewing10:00 Conference Opening Oliver Myers - Carbon Action Network Chair10:10 E.ON Sponsor’s Welcome Address John Fawcitt - Energy Efficiency Operations Manager, E.ON10:20 NI186 in LAAs & the Impacts on

Carbon Emission Targets Dr Joanne Wade, Impetus Consulting10:40 Developing Low Carbon Economies Philip Mind, LGA11:00 Energy & Environmental Technologies Prof Mohamed Pourkashanian, Engineering Faculty, Leeds University11:20 Q & A11:30 Break & exhibition viewing12:00 Adaption of Transport Andrew Whittles, Cenex12:20 Planning, Planning, Planning Julie Alexander, PRP Architects12:40 A Local Approach to Climate Change Alan Jones & George Munson, Leeds City Council13:00 Lunch & exhibition viewing14:00 Site Visits: (delegates can attend one only)

1. Tour of Drax Power Station 2. National Coal Mining Museum (with optional decent to coal pit) 3. The Dirty Old Town Tour - atrocities of the industrial revolution

Time Programme Item18:45 Drink reception in Exhibition Area19:30 Seated for dinner and Mayor of Leeds welcome19:30 CAN Launch and Awards Ceremony20:30 Casino21:00 Disco

Time Programme Item Speaker09:00 Coffee & exhibition viewing09:30 World Wide Weather Paul Hudson, Climate Correspondent & Meteorologist, BBC Look North09:50 Woodfuel Market Development and

Acceleration in the North York Moors Ben Scotting, Yorwoods10:10 Local Authority Delivery Andy Deacon, Energy Saving Trust10:30 Q & A10:40 Break and exhibition viewing11:00 Why Waste Waste? Nick Dawber, ENERGOS11:20 Growing old in a changing climate Dr Gary Haq, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York 11:40 Reducing Carbon Emissions Zoe Leader, WWF12:00 Q & A12:20 Lunch and exhibition viewing13:00 Seminars: (delegates can attend two. One hour each)

1. The clean coal debate - Is clean coal the new technology of the future or a disguised pollutant?(E.ON Clean Coal and Climate and Renewables depts.)2. Best Practice Case Study - ‘Project Counter Attack’, Hugh Wignall, Head of Neighbourhood Services Blackpool Council 3. Best Practice Case Study 2 - ‘Switch Off’ Campaign - Debbie Hill and , Leicester City Council 4. Manchester’s Mini Stern Report - Steve Turner, Manchester City Council

15:30 Close

Neville Stork

A 'warm let' for NorwichNorwich City Council has recently launched an

innovative grant scheme that aims to improve the

energy efficiency of the city's private rented sector

and improve awareness of the benefits of Energy

Performance Certificates (EPCs) among landlords

and tenants.

The Norwich warm let scheme is part of the

Norwich warm homes project and was launched

in January 2009 and has already allocated

funding for significant improvements at nearly 50

properties.

To benefit for a Norwich warm let grant, landlords

must have an EPC for their property and become

accredited through the greater Norwich landlord

accreditation scheme. This will then entitle them to

a grant of up to £6,000 to implement the

recommendations on their property’s EPC,

including £1,000 towards the cost of lower cost

measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation,

hot water tank jackets and energy saving bulbs.

The council arranges the lower cost measures to

ensure that CERT funding is levered in where

possible. If landlords complete all of the lower cost

measures for the property, they can then access a

further £1,500 towards the installation of a energy

efficient heating system and controls, £1,500

towards the cost of high efficiency glazing and

£2,000 towards solid wall insulation - providing

these are recommended on the property's EPC.

Once all of the measures are installed, the warm

homes team provide the landlord with a new EPC

free of charge, so they can demonstrate the

property's improved energy rating and lower

running costs to prospective tenants.

The Council are also using the scheme as an

incentive to encourage landlords to join their

accreditation scheme and to support the work of

their private sector housing team in eradicating

Category 1 hazards for excess cold.

Abbie Brook, the council's Home Energy Specialist

said:

“In just three months we have allocated over

£100,000 to help improve the energy efficiency in

the private rented sector - a sector that tends to

have the poorest levels of energy efficiency and

local authorities struggle to make an impact on

when trying to reduce fuel poverty. The scheme is

helping to increase the number of accredited

landlords, encouraging landlords to invest in their

properties and is helping us to build more positive

relationships with landlords and agents.

We have had several properties that have come

to us with a SAP rating of less than 15, and through

Norwich warm let we will be bringing these

properties up to SAPs of 70+, meaning warm,

affordable accommodation for Norwich city's

private rental tenants for many years to come.”

Housing Executive presents

first Home Energy AwardsThe Housing Executive as Home Energy

Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland

hosted their first Home Energy Awards, at the

Stormont Hotel on 18 February 2009. The

Awards were presented by the Minister for

Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA.

The Awards which showcase the best energy

efficient projects within the housing market

were sponsored by the Northern Ireland

Authority for Utility Regulation, Phoenix Natural

Gas, Firmus Energy, Action Renewables, the

Energy Saving Trust and NIE Energy.

The Northern Ireland Energy Agency's 'Insulate

Northern Ireland Scheme' won the prize for 'Most

Effective Marketing Initiative'. It was chosen for its

ability to develop and implement an effective

insulation marketing campaign. The campaign

encouraged householders to install measures that

would result in energy savings and a reduction in

CO emissions whilst ensuring all key partners were 2

involved.

Margaret Ritchie, Social Development Minister

said:

“I would like to congratulate the companies and

organisations honoured today for their work in

improving energy efficiency and tackling fuel

poverty. It is evident that there is a lot of good work

being done in the Energy Efficiency sector and it is

right that these efforts are being recognised

today.”

Brian Rowntree, the Housing Executive's Chairman

said:

“We have had some excellent entries for the

various categories in this the first year of the

Awards. I think the level of commitment to

improving energy efficiency in Northern Ireland, in

both the social and private sectors is clear from the

high standard of entries we received.

I hope this year's Awards spur the continuation of

such efforts and look forward to next year's

ceremony.”

There were five categories open to anyone

involved in schemes in the public and private

sector. The categories and their winners were:

Most Effective Marketing Initiative, sponsored by the

Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation:

the Northern Ireland Energy Agency, for the 'Insulate

Northern Ireland' scheme

Most Innovative Fuel Poverty Scheme, sponsored by

Phoenix Natural Gas:

Northern Investing for Health Partnership's Fuel Poverty

Steering Group, for 'Warmer Ways to Better Health'

scheme

Most Energy Efficient Initiative - Community Groups,

sponsored by Firmus Energy:

Creggan Country Park Enterprises Ltd, for 'Creggan

Country Park, Derry'

Most Energy Efficient Refurbishment Scheme, spon-

sored by Action Renewables

Hearth Housing Association, for the ' Ormeau Park Eco

House'.

Most Energy Efficient New Build Scheme - Joint Winners

First Winner, sponsored by the Energy Saving Trust:

The Carvill Group, for the 'Woodbrook Development' in

Lisburn.

Second Winner, sponsored by NIE Energy:

Sky Developments, for 'The Green House'.

Each winner was presented with a specially commis-sioned ceramic platter made by local artist Diane McCormick.

For more details of the winning entries, visit:www.nihe.gov.uk/print/index/ee_home/home_energy_awards_2009.htm

Nigel Brady, Northern Ireland Energy Agency, is pictured with Margaret Ritchie MLA, Brian Rowntree, Chairman, NIHE and Donald Henry from the N.I. Authority for Utility Regulation.

109

Watts Going Down in Warboys - Community Energy ChallengeEnergy used at home accounts for about one third

of all UK emissions. Our increased appetite for

electrical goods including everything from plasma

TVs and computer games consoles to tumble

driers and dishwashers means that about three per

cent more electricity is being gobbled up by

power hungry appliances, year on year.

If users could see the energy that drains away

whilst unnecessary lights are left switched on or

when appliances are left idle but still on standby,

you might get a shock!

In March, to help bring the cost of wasted

electricity home to residents, Huntingdonshire

District Council will Launched a 'Watts Going

Down - Community Energy Challenge' designed

to reduce energy wasted in the home with the

help of 'OWL' real time energy monitors. These

simple devices are easy to use and install and

allow users to see exactly how much energy they

are using in the home at any given moment. In

doing so they help the user to take corrective

action, by switching off lights and unnecessary

appliances, and they have been shown to be one

of the best means of encouraging greater energy

efficiency; cutting electricity use by up to 10%.

The Challenge has initially been launched in

Warboys, which last year won the 'Village Green',

award from the Energy Saving Trust for their

environmental efforts. One hundred participating

residents recorded their electricity meter readings

over a period of four weeks. The first week showed

'business as usual' electricity consumption without

the monitor and then the following three weeks

showed electricity use with the monitors in place.

The idea being to show exactly how much energy is

used before the OWL monitor is installed and exactly

how much can be saved using the energy monitors.

As well as showing energy savings in Kilowatts per

hour, the OWL monitors also show the user the cash

impacts of changing their habits in pence per hour

and the environmental savings in reduced CO 2

emissions. All these features are shown on an easy to

read LCD screen and stored in a cumulative

memory to make it easy to monitor electricity used.

During these four weeks, the Greener Living Fair took

place within the village and brought environmental

organisations to the village and details about

getting grants for cavity and loft insulation. There

were also energy and water efficiency solutions,

11

the current heating situation and whether there is

adequate insulation. She also checks if the

resident is receiving all the benefits they are

entitled to.

Funding for any work required is available to

people deemed as being on low income or who

are in fuel poverty (this is calculated as spending

more than 10% of their household income on fuel to

keep warm).

Krishna Ramkhelawon, the NHS's assistant director

of public health, says “the scheme is designed to

compliment the Government’s Warm Front

scheme to improve home energy efficiency. We

have chosen the area because surveys show it has

a high concentration of housing in poor quality and

this is an extra level of help for people with part-

icular health problems. We can help people

access funding they may not have known about,

and provide extra help that is not offered, such as

insulating solid walls and providing thermostatic

radiator valves”.

Two years after they have had the work done,

participants' medical records will be checked to

see how many times they sought healthcare

treatment compared with the two years previously.

There will also be qualitative work with question-

naires, to see if and how the interventions have

made a change to people's perception of their

condition, their lifestyle and their household

income.

The Team have worked to develop a robust pilot

scheme and will thoroughly assess it's success to

see if it will be rolled out across the whole borough.

This scheme, which has not been done before in

Essex will improve health, household income,

energy efficiency and will reduce carbon

emissions.

For more information contact:

Melanie Rundle, Fuel Poverty Officer,

Colchester Borough Council

Tel: 01206 282214

Email: [email protected]

Krishna Ramkhelawon,

Assistant Director of Public health,

NHS NE Essex

Tel: 01206 286820

Warm Homes may be

right up your streetA pioneering grant scheme in Colchester aims to make

homes warmer for people whose health is affected by

cold and damp conditions.

The joint project involving NHS North East Essex and

Colchester Borough Council aims to improve the long

term health of people with asthma or chronic obstruct-

i've pulmonary disease.

A £100,000 pilot scheme was launched in January 2009

in New Town Ward of Colchester, with over 200 patients

invited to take part.

The Fuel Poverty Officer appointed for this project visits

the resident at home and undertakes an assessment of

home composting and many much advice to

help people be more environmentally friendly.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Energy Doctor was

on hand to advise the public on reducing their

energy bills.

The scheme has attracted many press and

publicity opportunities. Anglia Television

produced a news report on one of the families

taking part which was aired at the beginning of

the challenge. BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

interviewed the Energy Doctor during the Greener

Living Fair and this has received local press

coverage throughout.

Currently, we are collating the information from all

participating residents and from this we will be

able to show how much energy and CO has been 2

saved in Warboys.

The Council is looking forward to working with

other parishes within the district. As with Warboys,

residents will be provided with energy monitors

and provided with assistance and advice which,

combined, will show that savings can results from

simple behavioural change.

For more information on this scheme visit

www.huntsdc.gov.uk or contact Heidi Field,

Environmental Education and Promotions Officer,

Huntingdonshire District Council on 01480 388388.

12

Warm Front UpdateThis article includes information extracts from Warm

Front’s regular networking bulletin. This is something

intended to compliment the monthly dashboard

reports provided to stakeholders (see below), and will

be produced on a quarterly basis. It is designed to

give information on issues relating to Warm Front,

changes to the scheme or operational processes, as

well as include articles that are likely to be of interest

to people working in the fuel poverty arena.

Stakeholder Dashboard

The new Warm Front Stakeholder dashboard can

provide a range of information including measures

installed per month per LA area; referral received;

cost of works by month and by year; insulation and

heating timelines and colour coded maps.

Warm Front Frequently Asked Questions Document

This document contains a wide variety of questions

and detailed answers relating to all aspects of the

Warm Front scheme. Questions are grouped into the

following sections:

! Referral ! Survey stage ! Installation stage ! Client contribution ! Warm Front for private tenants ! Inspection stage ! Warranty & aftercare ! Enquiries and complaints! Networking support

Sharing Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit data

to tackle Fuel Poverty

By utilising CTB and HB data to target fuel poor

households, Warm Front has been working

successfully in partnership with many Benefit

Managers since 2004. However, recent, broader

concerns regarding data security and also the

requirement to meet National Indicator objectives

(e.g. NI180, NI187) have provided the impetus to

clarify and further develop working relationships.

To ensure CTB and HB data-sharing with Warm Front

continues to be an appropriate and secure process,

many local authorities have written to the Information

Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for guidance. For

example, in North Yorkshire, all nine Local Authorities

contacted the Commissioners Office and received a

very positive reply. The Commissioner's Office stated

"l do not believe that what you are proposing will

breach the fair processing requirements of the DPA

98".

eaga.plc, the Warm Front scheme manager, also

contacted the ICO with regard to managing Local

Authority CTB and HB data. On the 19/08/08 the ICO

stated “I understand that those who receive CTB and

HB are eligible for Warm Front. Therefore I do not

consider that there is anything inherently unfair in

using the details of benefit recipients to contact them

to advise them of their eligibility. This is not a use for a

wholly incompatible purpose and the only

consequences for benefit recipients is that they

receive a letter advising them of their Warm Front

eligibility”.

This effective utilisation of HB and CTB data via eaga-

funded mailings is an effective and spatially inclusive

method of targeting all Warm Front eligible

households in any LA. By working in partnership with

the scheme, Benefit Managers can achieve

important National Indicator requirements.

In February 09, eaga will offer an informative Warm

Front Toolkit that can be used by all Benefit Managers

to effectively ensure appropriate compliance with

data legislation and provide suggestions for

consistent best practice and partnership working

processes that tackle fuel poverty effectively whilst

ensuring each local authority is maximising its Warm

Front funding from central government. For more

information, contact your local networker.

If you wish to be included in the monthly distribution of

this information, please contact your local networker.

13

Networker Areas

Peter Daley, has taken a six month

secondment to the Digital Switchover

scheme. Shida Bassiti has been appointed

as the Referral Generation Manager

covering Peter's role.

Referral Generation Manager:

Shida Bassiti

[email protected] - 07960 042167

Regional Managers:

Kirsty Brown (North West, North East,

Yorkshire & Humber)


Chris Horrocks (West Midlands,

East Midlands and Eastern)


Claire Bircham (South West, South East, London)


Networker e-mail phone

Angie Anderton [email protected] 07740 640818

Cathy Lomax [email protected] 07949 132026

Claire Bircham [email protected] 07960 043109

Claire Moore [email protected] 07983 805647

Clive Rushmore [email protected] 07961 080515

Craig Betts [email protected] 07985 331121

Gale Marriott [email protected] 07949 121241

Gavin McAuley [email protected] 07960 042547

Graeme Stephenson [email protected] 07960 084732

James Merrill [email protected] 07960 084758

Jamie Robinson [email protected] 07985 331880

Martin Carrick [email protected] 07852 265337

Nicky Jones [email protected] 07930 587069

Noeleen McNally [email protected] 07730 424418

Ravi Kumar [email protected] 07740 157265

Ruth Williams [email protected] 07740 817587

Simon Church [email protected] 07949 121245

Working as Partnership Development Officers, and each

covering a specific geographic region we have:

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E.ON Key Account Managers - ALEO · 1 2 Welcome to Carbon Action News Welcome to the second edition...

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Transcript of E.ON Key Account Managers - ALEO · 1 2 Welcome to Carbon Action News Welcome to the second edition...