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Issue 8 - Autumn 2005HECA Network News Issue 8 - Autumn 2005Sponsored by npowerHECA Network News Sponsored by npower

Housing Professionals Urged to put Energy Efficiency First

NETWORK NEWS

Issue 11 - autumn 2005

Image courtesy of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

www.hecafora.com

London HECA Forum

Chair: Ian Lane0208 8708 [email protected]

Vice-Chair: Oliver Myers0207 974 [email protected]

Secretariat: Sarah Hitchcock0845 450 [email protected]

South West HECA Forum

Acting Chair: Erica Pretty01202 633 428

[email protected]

Secretariat: Mike Brain01594 545367

[email protected]

Welsh HECA Forum

Chair: Steve Martin01443 864645

[email protected]

Vice-Chair: Bill Jones01978 297 208

[email protected]

Secretariat: Zoë Livermore01633 223111

[email protected]

West Midlands HECA Forum

Chair: Graham Jones01584 813 377

[email protected]

Vice-Chair: Neil Morton

0121 3036 148neil.morton@

birmingham.gov.uk

Secretariat: Ellie Cooper

0121 262 6402ellie.cooper

@hestia-europe.com

Home Energy Officers’ Network (HEON) - Eastern

Chair: Bruce Pittingale01945 [email protected]

Representative: Julia Blackwell01480 388 [email protected]

Secretariat: John Davis01733 262 [email protected]

East Midlands HECA Forum

Chair: Denise Marsdon01933 [email protected]

Vice-Chair:Alison McCafferty0116 299 [email protected]

Secretariat:Ros Badley0116 299 [email protected]

Home Energy Officers’ Network(HEON) - North West

Chair:Brian Sexton

0161 242 5803/[email protected]

Secretariat/Vice-Chair:Alison Hartley

0161 242 [email protected]

North East Domestic Energy Forum

Chair: Steve Kent0191 433 [email protected]

Vice Chair: Ian Bloomfield01388 761 [email protected]

Secretariat: Wendi Wheeler01642 777 [email protected]

Scottish HECA Officers’ Network (SHON)

Chair: Stephen Cunningham01506 773744

[email protected]

Secretariat: Scott Restrick0141 226 3064

[email protected]

Northern Ireland HECAAdvisory Panel

Representative: Noel Rice02890 240 588

[email protected]

This newsletter was designed by Rob Leeson

Disclaimer: The views expressed within this publication are individual and not necessarily shared by the editorial committee, the Home Energy Conservation Association (HECA), the Energy Saving Trust, Leicester City Council or our sponsors.

UK HECA

Chair: Bruce Pittingale01945 [email protected]

Vice Chair: Steve Martin01443 [email protected]

National Secretariat: Helen Atkins Tel: 0116 299 [email protected]

South East HECA Forum

Chair: Kathy Alcock01892 554 [email protected]

Vice Chair: Zoe Leader01903 737 [email protected]

Secretariat: Laura Russell020 7922 [email protected]

UK HECA Launch

Gathering Data for HECA Reporting

East Pennine HECA ForumYork & Humber

Chair: Paul Maplethorpe 01709 823 [email protected]

Secretariat: Clare Fitzpatrick 01484 351 [email protected]


npower Energy Services launch the 'Savings for Life' FREE Insulation Scheme

Qualifying homeowners and private tenants can 1benefit from FREE insulation in your local authority

area.

With the successful conclusion of EEC 2002 – 2005 behind us, npower’s Energy Services Team is now focusing its efforts towards delivering the next three-year programme, EEC 2005 – 2008. The increased energy saving targets will be extremely challenging and we recognise that this will require innovative and consumer-focused propositions that meet the requirements of our partner organi-sations. This is especially true if we are to achieve the legal requirement that 50% of our total energy savings target must be achieved through priority

2group customers . To address this, we are pleased to announce the launch of the npower 'Savings for Life' FREE Insulation Scheme. The scheme offers eli-gible households a package of fully funded insula-tion measures. Homeowners or private tenants that qualify for the scheme (eligible if in receipt of at least one priority group benefit) can receive an installation of one or more of the following mea-sures, completely free of charge:

! cavity wall insulation

! full loft insulation

! loft insulation top-up (50-270mm)

! and, if combined with one of the above, a hot water tank jacket

For local authorities, our free insulation scheme is a great opportunity to maximise the use of external funding which exists for the benefit of eligible home-owners and private tenants in your area. Some of the energy saving advantages offered to these cus-tomers includes reduced energy running costs and increased levels of comfort in the home, whilst assisting the environment and countering the effects of climate change. Saving Money. Saving Energy. Saving the Environment.

Utilisation of the scheme will contribute towards your Decent Homes and Local Authority HECA tar-gets. Annual reporting for energy saving measures installed throughout the area can be easily arranged through your designated contact within npower Energy Services.

Reporting of installed measures is just one of the benefits npower Energy Services can provide for a

partner organisation. Other examples include:

! Marketing support

! All customer communication handled via our 'Savings for Life' Insulation call centre

! Dedicated free-phone Energy Efficiency call centre

! Work carried out by local installers, who form part of a national network of 80 approved installers

npower Energy Services recognise the importance of individual authorities requirements when assist-ing with a partners marketing campaign. Dual branding, logistical and financial support can be accessed by partner organisations promoting the

3'Savings for Life' FREE Insulation scheme . Addition-ally, the npower Energy Services Bureau, the dedi-cated energy efficiency help-line is on hand to pro-vide expert advice and information to customers on all aspects of energy use and conservation. They can provide information leaflets for specific problems, suggest bespoke methods for lowering energy use or conduct a home energy survey for the customer over the phone or via post.

Our appointed insulation contractor, the InstaFibre Consortium, will complete all work professionally and in accordance with industry wide technical standards and best practice guidelines. In addi-tion, cavity wall insulation installed is issued with a Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) 25-year guarantee and 25-year guarantees are avail-able for loft insulation upon request. To ensure stan-dards of workmanship are to the highest standard, a minimum of 5% of properties under the scheme are subjected to technical monitoring. Customer satisfaction questionnaires are also left at all prop-erties where work is carried out, to check that the customer is happy with the service provided and to ensure that any problems identified are resolved promptly.

If householders within your Local Authority area could benefit from professionally installed, free insu-lation and the additional services provided through the npower 'Savings for Life' FREE insulation scheme, or you would like to discuss in more detail what is available, please contact us initially via email at: [email protected]

1 To qualify to receive the free insulation measures, customers must be a UK resi-dent (excluding Northern Ireland), own their own home or rent from a private landlord (they will not qualify if the property is rented from a social housing pro-vider) and receive one or more of qualifying benefits. Customers need not be an npower customer to qualify.2 Under the EEC (2005 - 2008) a priority group household is one in receipt of at least

one of the following benefits: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit (with an annual household income of less than £14,600), Child Tax Credit (with an annual household income of less than £14,600), Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, War Disablement Pension (where it includes either Mobility Supple-ment or Constant Attendance Allowance), State Pension Credit, Disablement Pension (which includes constant attendance allowance)3 Marketing support and funding subject to envisaged quantifiable energy sav-ings & terms and conditions.npower does not warrant or represent and is not responsible for the quality, fitness for purpose or otherwise of loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. All loft and cavity wall insulation is supplied by a member of the Instafibre Consortium with whom any agreement is made. You must be a resident of the UK (excluding Northern Ireland). The offer is subject to availability. All installations will be organ-ised by InstaFibre Consortium using local approved installers. npower is not responsible for and is not liable for or in connection with the installation of the insu-lation nor the actions or omissions of any installer.

HECA Network News is sponsored by:

11

HECA

For more information

on HECA, the Home

Energy Conservation

Association, visit

www.hecafora.com

22

HECA Network News Edition 11 - Autumn 2005This year’s Atlantic hurricane season was, perhaps, the most violent manifesta-tion of global climate change yet seen. Hurricane Wilma was the strongest hur-ricane ever recorded and tied 1969’s record of 12 hurricanes in one Atlantic season. Tropical Storm Alpha also set a new record of 22 named storms in a sea-son, meaning a greek letter had to be used as a storm designation for the first time ever. But while it’s difficult to ignore the tragic cost in lives and property of such catastrophic events, many subtle and insidious effects of global warming don’t often make front page news.

Coral reefs are the richest of tropical habitats, teeming with unique varieties of plant and animal life. In addition to being damaged by hurricanes, overfished, bombed, poisoned, smothered by sediment and algae and threatened by irre-sponsible tourism, the phenomenon of ‘coral bleaching’, linked to rises in sea temperature, has already decimated many reefs.

Tropical corals can only live within a narrow temperature range. Global warm-ing and related events, such as El Niño, lead to increases in water temperature. This forces the algae that give coral its colour out of the coral polyps, leaving it with the appearance of being ‘bleached’ white or grey. Often, bleaching can occur across a wide area of reef within just a few days. Usually, bleached coral recovers in the next cool season but if all the algae are lost the reefs will die.

Reefs in the North Indian Ocean and the Carribean, as well as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, have been particularly badly hit by bleaching. Already, 25% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed or badly degraded through one cause or another. If sea temperatures continue to rise then it is projected that up to 70% of coral reefs might be permanently lost by 2020. Research also suggests that coral skeletal growth is slowing due to higher concentrations of CO in sea waters around the world.2

Coral reefs don't just support marine life; the livelihoods of millions of people depend upon them, particularly in many of the poorest regions of the world. They supply seafood, building materials, sources for medicinal products, and draw revenue from tourism. Reefs also protect shorelines and communities from storms and erosion.

It has been discovered that the European Space Agency’s Envisat earth obser-vation satellite, can detect coral bleaching to a depth of about 33 feet and could potentially monitor affected coral reefs. Experiments involving protect-ing reefs from sunlight with shade cloth are also being conducted off Port Douglas, Australia.

The problem of Coral bleaching may seem benign in comparison to the destructive power of a hurricane but it is just one symptom of what could become a long-term global disaster for the biodiversity of our planet. Mass extinctions have taken place at regular intervals throughout Earth’s history. Will the human species be the cause of, or even a victim of, the next?

- Rob Leeson


3

Birmingham’s HottestProperties Revealed

BlueSky has produced a thermal hot spot map of Birmingham to show heat loss from buildings. The aerial photo-mapping company undertook an aerial survey of the city using a special thermal infrared sensor and has now delivered a digital map of the thermal hot spots to the Birmingham City Council. The raw data was processed so that it accurately matches the exist-ing mapping of the area. This is allowing thermal infor-mation to be matched to streets and properties and the overlaying of other sources of information, within their geographical information system (GIS)

The thermal survey was captured earlier this year using an airborne thermal infrared sensor, which is a modi-fied version of the technology used by the military for night vision. The survey was flown mid evening over the winter in order to capture the variations in temperature due to poor insulation of buildings. The raw survey data was then processed to create a map-accurate digital dataset and transformed into a GIS compatible layer to be integrated with the Council's Ordnance Survey MasterMap data.

By integrating the temperature information with their mapping, Birmingham can match it to demographic

Gathering Data for HECA Reporting

Collecting data for the annual HECA Report can be a very painstaking process and take up a lot of time, espe-cially if you have a full stock energy database to keep up-to-date. Information may be gathered from local installers, Warm Front and Local Authority Building Control who will all usually provide you with address spe-cific information.

In addition, it is likely that you would write to the energy suppliers with an obligation under the Energy Efficiency Commitment to find out what energy saving works they had funded through their schemes. This is all well and good, but do you receive useful information? If you have an energy database the answer is likely to be no. Why? Because the information is not address specific, it is only broken down as far as postcode outcode (e.g. LN11 8). If you ask for address specific details you are likely to be told that this cannot be provided due to the Data Protection Act, 1998.

But is there another way of obtaining this information? The answer is YES, through the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004.

The EIR came into force on 1st January 2005 replacing the former regulations which were in place since December 1992, giving members of the public the right to access environmental information held by public authorities.

EIR apply essentially to the same public authorities that are covered by the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000:

! Central government and government departments

! Local authorities

! Health and education establishments

! Police forces and prison services

! Advisory groups, commissions and agencies

However, unlike FOI, EIR also include:

! Any body or person carrying out a function of public administration,

! Any body or person under the control of a public authority who has responsibility in relation to the envi-ronment. This includes some private companies, public private partnerships, for example companies involved in energy, water, waste and transport.

The new definition has broadened the definition of envi-ronmental information. Environmental information cov-ers information on the state of the environment, such as:

! Information on emissions and discharges, noise, energy, radiation, waste and other such substances.

This is the route through which we can get our energy efficiency information. In addition, with regard to the Data Protection Act, the information I am requesting is

specific to the property and not the personal data of an individual.

As far as the relevant legislative information is con-cerned, when requesting information from energy sup-pliers, they and their legal departments should be directed to the following:

! Paragraph 1, Section 1 sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and Paragraph 2, (d)(i) of the full Statutory Instrument, which can be found through the follow-ing link: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/cms/DocumentUploads/EIR%20text.pdf

! More detailed information and interpretation is available at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/opengov/eir/pdf/guidance-2.pdf

Whilst some of the new information management leg-islation has been seen by many to be more of a hin-drance than help, this is at least one example where it is of use. npower agreed to provide me with such infor-mation and I hope that when I approach the other energy suppliers they will adopt the same viewpoint as well.

Darren AdamsEnergy Efficiency OfficerEast Lindsey District Council(01507) 601111 ext. 285e-mail: [email protected]

First Residents Move into Poole's Eco-Village

During the late Summer of 2005 residents have been moving into their new homes on the Eco Village at Seldown in Poole, Dorset.

Developed by Western Challenge Housing Associa-tion in partnership with the Borough of Poole, it is hoped that new residents will benefit from the cost effective and environmentally friendly features, including a life-style that is less dependent on individual car owner-ship. As part of the development's eco-friendly philos-ophy, residents have the use of two brand new cars, a Vauxhall Astra and Corsa as a low cost alternative to owning and maintaining their own vehicles.

The first meeting of the Residents' Association recently took place in the Community Centre which was built as an integral part of the new housing scheme. There was a lot of support for the car club and a number of residents said that they (and particularly their chil-dren!) enjoyed the feeling of space created by the homezone and lack of the usual crush of cars that you often find on high density developments.

- Erica PrettyBorough of Poole Council

data derived from the census, including household income and the architectural style of each building. This will enable them to identify specific properties with poor thermal efficiency and effectively target these proper-ties to reduce heat loss.

"For the first time we can accurately identify properties with poor thermal efficiency, allowing us to target our resources very effectively", said Rashid Ikram, Strategy Officer for Birmingham City Council. "The GIS-ready ther-mal data enables us to undertake this analysis at the desk-top, saving time and resources."

Birmingham City Council are using the thermal data in order to meet it's regulations under the 1995 Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) which requires all local authorities with housing responsibilities to improve energy efficiency by 2006. These responsibilities also include an energy conservation report identifying measures to improve energy efficiency and to report on their prog-ress.

For more information contact: Mat Day

on 01530 518536 or by email at [email protected]

4


Daventry District Council Demonstrates Mini Wind Turbine

August saw the launch of a micro wind turbine on the roof of the visitor centre at Daventry Country Park in Northamptonshire. The system, now on show, is believed to be the first public demonstration of this tech-nology in the country.

A tiny version of its big brother, the wind farm turbine, the Windsave system, provided by British Gas, is designed for domestic properties. The rooftop model is expected to produce around 1kw of electricity to sup-plement the property's existing national grid supply – enough to power a TV and DVD player, computer, the freezer, fridge and several lights.

Initial estimates show one unit could cut annual elec-tricity bills by up to a third and reduce CO emissions by 2

half a tonne a year.

The micro wind generators are unique in that they are plugged directly into the mains through a standard three-pin plug and can operate in wind speeds as low as three miles per hour. A cable leads directly from the turbine into a control box where sophisticated elec-tronics smooth out the rough electricity created by the wind power and convert it to match the mains fre-quency so it can be fed into the household mains through a 13 amp plug.

Dave Malone, Daventry District Council's Home Energy Conservation Officer explained: "The visitor centre is already equipped with photovoltaic and solar thermal panels so it has become a renewable energy hub for the area. The turbine will allow us to test the technology and assess its impact."

The micro turbine is attracting considerable interest at the Reservoir cafe which is attached to the visitor cen-tre. Cafe manager Helen Hunt said "I have been giving out lots of leaflets about the micro wind turbine, people see it and then drop in to the cafe for a cuppa and start talking about it. I am sure I could have sold more tur-bines than tea since it’s been installed"

For More information, contact D Malone at Daventry District Council 01327 302329

If every local authority and housing association pre-pared a strategy to address climate change and set targets for reducing emissions from their housing stock we would be in a significantly better position in helping the government reach its targets of a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

Installing energy efficient measures also has a number of other very important benefits. It improves tenants' welfare, reduces fuel poverty and reduces the Housing Authorities maintenance costs.

The Energy Saving Trust provides a wide range of infor-mation and advice for local authorities and housing professionals through its Practical help service. This ser-vice includes ‘Energy Efficiency: The Guide’, an online toolkit designed to provide housing professionals in the public and private sectors with information to develop and implement energy efficiency strategies. The guide includes topics such as how to develop a housing energy strategy to techniques for assessing housing stock and sources of funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.

There's no doubt that 2005 has been a significant year for local authorities and housing associations and their on going commitment will have a huge part to play in helping the UK reach its Kyoto target of a 12.5 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2010. The Energy Saving Trust looks to all housing professionals to make energy efficiency a key part of their housing strategy.

Housing Professionals Urged to put Energy Efficiency First

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust urges all local authorities and housing associa-tions to make energy efficiency a key part of their hous-ing strategy

Energy Efficiency in housing and climate change, as a whole, has been one of the most hotly debated issues of the past year. The Prime Minister declared global warming as “the world's greatest environmental chal-lenge” and UK leaders positioned climate change as a key topic at the G8 Summit in July.

Local authorities and housing professionals have an important role in the fight against climate change but with only 26 per cent of local authorities putting energy efficiency at the top of their agenda, there is plenty of scope for improvement.

The Energy Saving Trust is urging all housing profession-als to take advantage of the advice, information, and support they offer to develop a sustainable energy strategy.

Together, local authorities and housing associations own 25 per cent of all housing stock in the UK, and energy used in this sector produces over 48 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, one of the major contributors to climate change.

TOP TIPS FROM THE ENERGY SAVING TRUST TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY STRATEGY

! Develop a housing energy strategy – keep up to date with policy structure, legislation, benefits of energy effi-ciency, and investment and funding options.

! Conduct a housing stock assessment – look at the establishment of stock-level energy performance indi-cators and how to track progress.

! Deliver affordable warmth – understand and be aware of techniques for identifying and measuring fuel poverty and tools for evaluating the performance and cost effectiveness of improvement options.

! Train your staff in energy efficiency – look at the devel-opment and implementation of best practice energy training programmes.

! Provide energy advice for tenants – establish a best practice energy advice programme.

! Conduct a review of new and renewable energy sys-tems.

! Look at all the energy efficiency options including community heating and CHP.

For further information about the Energy Saving Trust's Energy Efficiency: The Guide, please go to: www.est.org.uk/housingbuildings/localauthorities/theguide

Warm Homes for Derwent - a Home Energy Project for the New Deal Communities Area in Derby

In 2002, we estimated that approximately 35% of households in the Derwent ward in Derby were in fuel poverty, which means that these households were pay-ing 10% or more of their annual income on their fuel bills. This figure was significantly higher than the aver-age for the city which was 28%.

In order to address this issue, Derby City Council, work-ing together with the Derwent Community Team and local residents, has managed to secure funding from the New Deal for Communities initiative for a part-time, temporary Home Energy Advisor for the Derwent area.

The aim of the project is to help reduce the number of households in the Derwent ward that are suffering from fuel poverty.

The project will:! employ a Home Energy Advice Worker! work with frontline staff to make them aware of the

signs of fuel poverty and knowledge of the services to which they can refer vulnerable people

! develop an effective and simple to use referral sys-tem

! promote grants that are already available! train Energy Champions! offer home visits to all residents in the Derwent Area

NDC area – focusing primarily on vulnerable house-holds

! refer people accessing the service to other agencies that might be able to help with other projects

! carry out a survey at the end of the project to assess the level of awareness about fuel poverty amongst frontline workers and residents in the area.

Over £11,500 of New Deal for Communities funding has been secured, with another £1,000 coming from Southern Derbyshire Housing Health Forum funding. It is estimated that this project will be able to draw in approximately £15,000 in grants for people in Derwent.

Project outputs:

Number of home visits...................................................50

Number of people's homes improved to make them more energy efficient ............................300

Number of agency representatives trained in fuel poverty ...................................................15

Number of residents trained in fuel poverty ...............15

For further information, please contact Richard Murrell, Home Energy Advice Manager at Derby City Council on 01332 255622, e-mail: [email protected]

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7

several thousand dwellings. This includes a total of 400kW of PV in Kirklees. This represents almost 5% of the UK's installed capacity of solar PV (based on IEA PVPS esti-mate 2004), which shows how sig-nificant this project is.

The solar installations will provide many benefits to householders and the Kirklees community, including reduced fuel costs (householders could save up to £70 per year), providing 13% of electricity and 50-60% of tenants' hot water needs, increased skills of local tradespersons and a huge reduction in climate change emis-sions.

The Council is working in partner-ship with Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH) and Yorkshire Hous-ing Group (YHG) to deliver this inno-vative project, as part of an overall regeneration scheme for the Prim-rose Hill area. Work is almost com-plete on KNH-managed proper-ties being refurbished under Decent Homes and will start later in the year onto Yorkshire Housing (new build) properties.

For further information, please contact

the Environment Unit,Kirklees Council on

01484 223568 or email:[email protected]

Primrose Hill Solar PV & Solar Thermal (Social housing) Project

Kirklees Council is leading further development of renewable energy both locally and in the UK, working towards a target of meeting 5% of the district's energy demand from renewable sources by 2005.

A total of 58kWp (Kilowatt peak) of solar PV panels has been installed on 58 homes on social housing at Primrose Hill. This includes 12 individ-ual bungalows, 34 two storey houses and 3 two storey flats (1kWp per home). Solar thermal systems have also been installed on 32 homes.

In addition, it is proposed to install a total of 55kWp of roof integrated solar PV systems on 31 new houses and 32 new flats (in a circus building) in partnership with the Yorkshire Hous-ing Group (YHG). The new homes will also have solar hot water heat-ing systems installed.

The project at Primrose Hill is part of a European scheme called SunCities. Through this programme, Kirklees Council, with partners from the Neth-erlands and Germany, aims to install a total of 3.05 MW (megawatts) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on

Solar PV retrofitted systems on flats

Dave Smith – Mico InstallerNia Prys-Williams – HECA Officer Flintshire County CouncilAndrew Mackie & Lousie Jones – first Flint-sulate customers in the middle.Steve Woosey – North Wales EEAC Phil Warren – Scottish Power Andy Evans and Tracey Roberts – Wall-lag Installers -

‘Flint-sulate’ –Flintshire County Council's New Insulation Scheme

Flintshire County Council & Scottish Power are launching a new private sector insulation scheme, ‘Flint-sulate’. The multi-stake-holder scheme will put them on the finishing straight towards their 14% energy reduction Policy Agreement targets and engage the largely neglected private sector.

Flintshire County Council in North Wales was the leading authority in Wales in terms of HECA returns. How-ever, the 30% target for reducing energy consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions, stipulated in the Home Energy Conservation Act was always looking beyond their capabilities. Flintshire County Coun-cil approached a firm of local con-sultants to carry out an analysis of feasible energy reduction targets. It was concluded that, with the age profile of the county's housing stock, a 20% reduction by 2007 was more realistic. The authority still struggled but, in 2004, the Welsh Assembly Government introduced the Policy Agreement targets and most authorities adopted the 12% target. Flintshire County Council decided to set its sites higher and is now aiming for a 14% reduction.

By April 2004, the authority had achieved a 10.37% improvement in domest ic energy eff ic iency. Through partnerships with the energy utilities, British Gas and Scot-tish Power, the authority has man-aged to insulate most of its 8,000 council properties and has a rolling programme of upgrading heating systems and fuel switches, many of which are solid fuel to gas.

It became apparent, however, that improvement in the Council's own stock was not going to achieve the policy agreement target alone. The private sector needed to be addressed. The Energy Uni t approached the authority's execu-tive members and demonstrated that, with a small contribution from Flintshire County Council, significant EEC funding was available from

energy suppliers to devise and support an energy saving scheme targeting the private sector. The result was Flint-sulate.

Flintshire County Council has teamed up with Scottish Power to offer all pri-vate homeowners and tenants heavily discounted Loft and Cavity Wall Insula-tion. Flintshire County Council will be mailing all 56,000 private residents over the next 12 months with an introduc-tory letter detailing the scheme. The North Wales Energy Efficiency Advice Centre will be administrating the scheme and refer customers to either Mico or Wall-lag, the insulation install-ers. The scheme aims to attract both the fuel rich and fuel poor and high-light all financial, social and environ-mental benefits for insulating the home.

Flintshire County Council's executive member for Housing and Customer Ser-vices, Councillor Ros Griffiths, said: “By joining the Flint-sulate scheme, tenants could save around £200 a year on fuel bills, be warmer and more comfort-able and know they're doing they're bit for the environment by reducing CO emissions which are emitted from 2

burning fossil fuels.”

The authority met with Flintshire Local Health Board and National Energy

Action, who were keen to endorse the scheme due to it's aims and objectives overlapping with many of their own. Each promotional letter features both organisation's logos.

Similar schemes which have been con-ducted elsewhere have seen uptake of around 6%. If Flint-sulate proves as successful, we can look forward to installing around 3000 insulating mea-sures throughout the county. This would put the county well on its way to achieving the 14% Policy Agreement targets.

The scheme will also obtain Quick SAP data from all properties receiving mea-sures. It is hoped that this will provide the authority with a clearer and more accurate picture of the standard of housing in terms of efficiency and pro-vide a template for action for achiev-ing the Welsh Housing Quality Stan-dards 2012.

For more information, please contact:-

Miss Nia Prys-WilliamsHome Energy Conservation OfficerFlintshire County [email protected] 703766

8

Solar thermal and solar PV retrofitted systems on houses

EUSol

Leicester is one of 11 towns in four Euro-pean countries that have been taking part in the European Commission, ALTENER funded, 'Euro-pean Solar Building Exhibition' project (www.eu-exhibitions.org).

As part of the project, Leicester City Council is holding a solar energy exhibi-tion from Tuesday 1 November to Wednesday 30 November 2005. This is taking place mainly at the Leicester Energy Efficiency Advice Centre in the city centre (2-4 Market Place South). The exhibition is to provide examples of local buildings utilising solar energy, and will include information, displays and the opportunity to visit some of the buildings. It is intended that it will pro-vide information on 50 refurbished homes using solar energy and ten exam-ples of retro-fitted solar energy on exist-ing buildings in Leicester. It should be of interest to local government officers, architects, developers, installers, politi-cians, and members of the public. As part of the same project, Northampton Borough Council are intending to hold a related exhibition in early 2006, exhib-iting buildings in a new highly energy efficient local development.

The Leicester exhibition coincides with the Leicester Sustainable Energy Beacon open day and study tour on 15 and 16 November. For more informa-tion on the exhibition, please contact the Leicester Energy Agency on tel: 0116 299 5150


9

RaisingTemperatures with HotSpots!!

As temperatures dip this winter, HotSpots is on the move to make homes warmer. HotSpots is an EST funded Innovation Programme run by Creative Environmental Networks (CEN) and is now moving into its' sec-ond year. The idea behind HotSpots is to use building type and demo-graphic data to create a more tar-geted approach to the marketing of insulation measures, to residents in areas where there are high percent-ages of un-insulated homes. HECA officers from the 20 Local Authorities in South West London and Kent are working with Creative Environmen-tal Networks, to improve energy effi-ciency through the direct promotion of cost-effective home insulation measures to residents.

Home Energy Check (HEC) data, collected by the two EEACs and the 20 Local Authorities within the focus area, represents the majority of the data analysed to decipher which areas have the greatest potential for insulation. In areas where HEC data coverage was poor, addi-tional data, such as Home Condition Survey and census data, was also used.

The data is analysed by dividing up the boroughs into the smallest possi-ble areas, given the data coverage.

In a typical borough, results show that a fifth of the borough contains the high-est number of un-insulated homes, and therefore represents the 'Hottest' areas in which to target householders through various marketing methods. As an example, in the London Borough of Croydon, just a fifth of the borough has potential for approximately 8500 installations of cavity wall insulation.

The completion of Year one of the pro-ject has revealed it to be the most suc-cessful and cost-effective project to improve energy efficiency in the able-to-pay sector, and has resulted in 954 installations through the Energy Smart and Kent Action to Save Heat (KASH) schemes.

This October will hail the start of Year two of the HotSpots marketing cam-paign and will be used to reach approximately 40,000 householders in the 'hottest' areas, through direct mar-keting methods such as the distribution of resident-specific letters, and locally tailored posters and leaflets, for shops and community areas; the general message to householders being 'save money and the environment by insu-lating your home this winter'. Analysis from last winter's mailings reveals that returns varied between 5% (in areas where 30-35% of householders needed insulation) to around 9% (in areas where 50-55% of householders needed insulation). These returns are three times greater than any previous mail-ings targeted at the 'able-to-pay' householder groups.

Confidence in the HotSpot method has grown recently in response to last

year's successes and there is yet more scope, for applying the strat-egy to the marketing of other cost-effective energy saving measures, such as condensing boilers.

The HotSpots methodology can be applied as broadly as people are willing to embrace it. A good ques-tion to ask is: how long will the 'able-to-pay' be able to pay? With rising fuel prices more and more house-holds are slipping into fuel poverty and HotSpots can be used as a pre-ventative technique to address this situation. As fuel prices rise, house-holders are already seeing a need to reduce their fuel bills, and recent events linked with the ongoing effects of climate change can only further encourage residents to do their bit for the environment, by reducing their carbon emissions through home insulation. This years funding will mean a further 1000 homeowners will reduce their col-lective fuel consumption by approx-imately 2.5 million kWh, save in the region of £100,000 and reduce CO 2

emissions by 475,000 kg. As HotSpots is one of the most effective means of communication used, thus far, to warm householders up to the idea of home insulation, it should be con-tinued long after its official end.

For more information on the Hot-Spots project and related schemes, please contact:

David ShewanCreative Environmental Networks020 8683 6649

North East Region Tackles Fuel Poverty

The Working Group of the North East Domestic Energy Forum (NEDEF) have developed a Declara-tion on Fuel Poverty that organisations large and small within the Region can sign up to.

Intended as both a development tool for Local Authorities and larger organisations, such as utility companies, and as a 'door opener' to smaller organisations and voluntary groups, the Declara-tion has been formatted to encompass all of the issues surrounding fuel poverty and tackling the problem together.

The one-page Declaration has three sections - an Acknowledgement, Welcoming and Commitment and is supported by a pack of information to help organisations find their way through to delivering effective improvements on the ground.

Whilst Local Authorities may wish to sign the Decla-ration to reinforce their commitment to providing affordable warmth, it can also be seen as a first step in formalising the actions of a small organisa-tion or voluntary group who wish to work on fuel pov-erty issues, but don't know where to start.

The North East Fuel Poverty Declaration will be offi-cially launched on 10 November, at Ramside Hall, Durham. For further information, contact the NEDEF Secretariat on (01642) 777970.

NEW ‘Warm Zones Works’ CD Resource

Warm Zones have just launched a new web site and CD to explain how to set up a Warm Zone – ideal for any local authority or other community based organisation wishing to start the process of develop-ing a new Zone.

It covers all the basics and much more including, What is a Warm Zone? Why Warm Zones Work, how to plan a Warm Zone, a current case study and achievements. It sets out to answer those most fre-quently asked questions and uses video, text and links to key documents and contact points.

A FREE pack containing a CD version of the entire website is available to everyone from: [email protected]

The information is also available online at:www.warmzones.co.uk

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UK HECA Launch

On 16 March 2005, the UK HECA Fora Network was disbanded and the UK Home Energy Conservation Association (HECA) was formed in its place. UK HECA, a private limited company, received its Certificate of Incorporation on 4 July 2005.

All memberships of the UK HECA Fora are automati-cally transferred to the new organisation under the same terms. The structure of the Association is now three tier, the National Executive, Devolved countries and then the regions to those countries. This can be seen in the structure chart, opposite.

UK HECA will be officially launched at a private reception hosted at the House of Commons on Mon-day 19 January 2006. HECA officers from the UK are invited to attend the reception with their Council Chief Executive, Leader or other senior figure.

The launch will commence at 4 pm in the members' dining room with a drinks reception. This will be fol-lowed by a presentation from our sponsors for the event, Powergen, and ministerial address. The Chair of the UK HECA Executive will then officially launch UK HECA. The evening will close at 6 pm.

UK HECA Launch schedule! Arrive at House of Commons! Welcome drinks reception in Members’ dining

room! Ministerial address! Powergen and NEA address! Official launch of UK HECA by Bruce Pittingale,

Chair of the UK HECA Executive! Buffet dinner

Places are limited to 150 and will be issued on a first come first served basis. To reserve your place, fill in the form, opposite, and return it to the national secre-tariat by 25 November 2005. Please note that invita-tions are to HECA officers only.

To celebrate the work of UK HECA an annual review has been published for 2004-2005. A copy of this is included with this edition of HECA Network News. The review sets out to raise the profile of UK HECA, HECA officers and its work in energy efficiency, erad-icating fuel poverty and al lev iat ing c l imate change. It details the work carried out by UK HECA from the 2004/05 agenda set by the HECA Executive and UK HECA Secretariat. Addi-tional copies are avail-able from the UK HECA Secretariat.

- Helen AtkinsUK HECA Secretariat

England

9 regions (384 Local Authorities)

Wales

22 Local

Authorities

32 Local Authorities

Scotland

26 Local Authorities

N.Ireland

UK HECA at the NEA Conference

If you were at the NEA conference on 19-21 Sep-tember, you may well have seen UK HECA's exhibi-tion stand. This is the first time UK HECA have exhib-ited at a national event and is part of our recipro-cal arrangement with NEA.

The new exhibition stand held up well and there was a healthy flow of delegates to the stand where they could pick up the latest edition of HECA Network News and the UK HECA Annual Report.

Bruce Pittingale, UK HECA National Chair, said, “We were overwhelmed with the response of exhibiting at the NEA conference and we hope it will be a permanent fixture on the agenda”.

The HECA display stand is available to use free of charge. If your region would like to borrow the stand for an exhibition, please let us know.


Name: ..........................................................................................................................Local Authority: ...........................................................................................................

I confirm that I am a HECA Officer q(Please note, only HECA Officers are eligible to apply)

Address: .......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................Postcode: ...................................

Email: ............................................................................................................................

Tel:.................................................................................................................................

Fax: ...............................................................................................................................

Dietary requirements: q Vegetarian q Vegan q Gluten free

Other requirement (Please specify) .........................................................................

In order for you to attend, it is required that you bring a senior figure with you, e.g. a Council Chief Executive of Council Leader. Please tick the appropriate box and write the Name, position and dietary requirements of the person accompanying you in the space provided:

q Council Chief Executive q Council Leader q Other Senior Figure

Name ...........................................................................................................................

Position .........................................................................................................................

Dietary requirements q Vegetarian q Vegan q Gluten free

Other requirement (Please specify) ........................................................................

Signature...............................................................

Sponsored by Malcolm Moss MP

UK HECA Launch Application Form

HECA

The new UK HECA Structure

The UK HECA display stand at the NEA Conference

Please note, places are limited to 150 and will be issued on a first come first served basis to HECA officers only. To reserve your place, fill in this form and return it to the UK HECA Secretariat, by post: 2-4 Market Place South, Leicester, LE1 5HB or by fax: 0116 299 5137by 25 November 2005.

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HECA

Don Lack Says Goodbye

Don Lack, former National Chair of UK HECA, has left his role as Director of Leicester Energy Agency to join Atkins Global as an energy consultant in Nottingham.

Don joined Leicester City Council in 1991 to help deliver the Leicester Energy Policy, which called for an energy reduction to 50% of the 1990 levels by the year 2025.

Don played a significant role in the formation of the HECA network and UK Secretariat, leading to him being awarded the first Diana Maddock Lifetime Achievement award, after standing down as Chair with nine years service at the 2004 Home Energy Conference.

Amongst his other accolades, Don was made an Ambassador for Energie Citiés in 2004, was made Energy Manager of the Year in 2002 and holds a Queen’s Badge of Honour for distinguished service.

Don was sent off with a new addition to his ward-robe. Famed for his extravagant (and some might even say stylish) collection of waistcoats, Don was presented with a new purple faux fur waistcoat by his colleagues at the Agency (as well as some other more traditional leaving presents).

The UK HECA Executive and the Network would like to thank Don for his service and wish him all the very best in his future with Atkins.


Energy Savings for Torbay Residents

Both Teignbridge and Torbay Council have launc-hed schemes to address cavity fill and loft insula-tion.

A new scheme, aimed at keeping Torbay residents warmer in their homes and reducing their energy bills, was launched earlier this year.

The scheme is funded by British Gas in partnership with Torbay Council and Miller Patterson, the install-ers, and offers people who privately own or rent their property the chance to purchase cavity wall and loft insulation at a reduced rate.

The savings will depend on the size of the property, however, savings will be in the region of 40 to 60 per-cent.

Councillor Chris Lomas, Executive Member for Com-munity, said: "One of Torbay Council's priorities is to improve health and social care in Torbay. As part of this commitment, we are tackling the issue of fuel poverty where residents are spending more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel to heat their home adequately.

"The subsidised scheme could potentially benefit around 30,000 residents and will be launched throughout Torbay in stages. This is to prevent long waiting times for those who want to take up the offer. There will be a number of methods used to ensure that all those eligible for the grant are aware of the opportunity. These include mail drops, tele canvassing and door to door calls, all at no cost to the Council."

Jarrod Hutt, Affordable Warmth/Home Energy Offi-cer, added:

"Figures from the Energy Saving Trust state an aver-age annual saving of £178 in energy bills, if cavity wall and loft insulation is installed in a typical three bedroomed property.

This is a sound investment where you will get your money back in energy savings within three years and continue to make savings after that.

Customers will not only be offered interest free credit options but can be safe in the knowledge that the work has been carried out by approved installers, Miller Patterson with a 25 year guarantee on all British Gas cavity wall insulation."

Jean Parbrook from British Gas added: "We are delighted that Torbay Council has come on board with this scheme. It is important for everyone to try to save energy, both for their own benefit and to help the environment."

For further information, please contact: Nicola Moorhouse, Communications Assistant on 01803 208850

Southend Soars with Solar

Southend is making more use of its sunshine to bring free hot water to local property owners. As part of its scheme of Housing Assistance for privately owned properties, Southend Council is continuing to offering a limited number of Solar Grants to local property owners for 2005/06.

Since the scheme’s launch in the winter of 2003, the Council has grant aided 26 successful solar heating installations across the Borough, meaning that Southend is setting an example across the country in successfully establishing renewable solar tech-nology in local residential properties. Councillor Gwen Horrigan, Portfolio Holder for Housing in Southend, said: “It is good to see Southend in the vanguard of renewable energy technology in Essex and now helping the fuel-poor, as well, to access this new environmentally-friendly technol-ogy, which used to be available only to the fuel-rich”.

Heating water using solar energy from the sun is the easiest and most affordable way of harnessing the sun's power. This saves on heating bills and, at the same time, benefits the environment by reducing carbon emissions from traditional fuels. The tech-nology for gaining the benefits from solar power is well-established, and installation is straight-forward. Solar water heating systems collect both direct and diffused sunshine and should provide about 60% of the annual hot water requirements of a normal domestic household.

The Council has joined in partnership with the Essex Energy Efficiency Advice Centre to promote and organise this new scheme. Grant aid is available for part of the costs of installing a solar panel on the roofs of local properties linked to their domestic hot water systems. But now the scheme has been developed and extended to include an interest free loan to help with the balance of costs in addi-tion to the basic grant for households in receipt of certain benefits. So a wide range of home owners can apply and make the most of this opportunity for 'free' renewable energy.

- Martin TurnerEssex Energy Efficiency Advice Centre

Don Lack leaving in style!

HECA Network News is sponsored by:

Please send any news items, articles or pictures that you would like to see in HECA Network News to: Helen Atkins, at the UK HECA Secretariat, email: [email protected], Telephone: (0116) 299 5133, Fax: (0116) 299 5137, Address: UK HECA Secretariat, 2-4 Market Place South, LEICESTER, LE1 5HB.

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