Energy Efficiency a Practical Guide to How Your Community Can Become More Energy Efficient

Community Guide

Energy efficiency A practical guide to how your community can become more energy efficient

Sponsored by Community Guide Energy effi ciency

Getting started What’s involved This Community Guide provides Understanding the energy Energy effi ciency is at information on how your needs of your community and the heart of reducing community can become more thinking about introducing energy effi cient and help to an energy champion initiative bills, helping to protect reduce fuel poverty. to promote domestic energy the environment and effi ciency and aff ordable warmth. ensuring longer term security of energy supplies.

What is energy effi ciency?

Energy effi ciency refers to Domestic Energy Use consuming less energy. This Home Energy Check can include changing your Calor’s online tool behaviour to reduce the providing energy consumption of energy or e ciency advice tailored to your home. making improvements to your home to make it more energy hec.calor.co.uk e ffi c i t.e n

Energy effi ciency is at the heart of reducing fuel bills, helping to protect the environment and ensuring the longer term security of energy supplies. Action to conserve energy use, especially heat in homes Cooking 3% will make a major contribution to achieving this goal. This is Lighting and appliances 15% because the majority of energy we use in our homes, and Space heating 57% therefore the majority of our energy expenditure is spent on Water 25% heating (see the chart, right).

Domestic Energy Use How you begin to improve energy effi ciency is important making changes to their energy and there are diff erent things use including investment in new that households can do (see How renewable heating or generation can I be more energy effi cient at measures. However, it always home?). makes sense to address household insulation and Many households are energy behaviours fi rst. Energy increasingly interested in Champions can help us do this.

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How can I be more energy effi cient at home?

Loft insulation 1 A well insulated loft keeps the heat in - like wearing a warm coat on a freezing cold day. Your loft should have 270mm of insulation (about 12 inches), any less, and your expensively bought heat will leak out, 2 costing you money and 1 making your home colder.

2 Solar panel The sun can pre-heat 3 your water or generate 4 electricity. Renewable energy isn’t right for every 5 home, but can be a money saver and cut carbon. 6 Draught-proofed 3 windows Double glazing could knock around £140 a 7 year off your heating bills, although it is expensive and may not be worth it in every case. ‘Secondary glazing’ is where a second layer of glass or clear 10 plastic is fi tted inside an existing window frame 11 behind the existing pane 9 of window glass; it is cheaper to install but not s o e ff e c t i v . e

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4 Insulated hot water tank 7 Radiator controls 10 A-rated fridge (and other Most hot water tanks Thermostatic radiator appliances) fi tted in the last 20 valves allow you to have If you’re replacing your years will have been diff erent temperatures fridge, freezer, washing ‘factory insulated’ and in diff erent rooms, and machine, dishwasher or are probably okay in to turn off the heating kettle, look for the Energy terms of insulation. If your in rooms that aren’t Effi ciency Recommended hot water tank is either used. They’ll reduce your logo. A-rated appliances uninsulated or has a badly heating bill and save you will save a lot of money. fi tting old lagging jacket money. Your fridge is on all day, then you should defi nitely every day, so you want replace it. New jackets it to run as effi ciently as are cheap and you’ll save 8 Low-energy light bulbs possible. money quickly. Five low-energy light bulbs use about the same amount of electricity as 11 Heating controls Cavity wall insulation just one ordinary bulb, so Heating controls allow 5 If your home has cavity they can shave a lot off you to choose when the walls, they should be your electricity bill. What’s heating is on, how warm insulated. This will save more, they last up to 10 it is, and where you want you around £160 a year on times longer, saving up the warmth. They will also your fuel bills and make to £45 over each bulb’s make sure that your boiler your home more snug. lifetime. is only turned on when There are also ways to it needs to be. They can insulate solid walls, but it save you around 17% of is more expensive. Wise washing your heating bill. 9 If possible, fi ll up your washing machine, tumble TV not standing-by dryer or dishwasher; one 6 Don’t leave your TV, full load uses less energy computers or other than two half loads. Give equipment on standby your tumble drier a rest - switch off at the plug. and dry your laundry the And remember not Mediterranean way. The to leave laptops and sun and wind will do the mobile phones on charge job for free! unnecessarily.

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Why is energy effi ciency important? Energy is a particularly important issue. Use more than you can aff ord and you may be threatened with disconnection. Ration the use of energy and you may put yourself and your family at an increased of a cold-related illness or stress associated with living in a cold home.1

Evidence shows that rural those in most need are often This might be because they households are twice as likely more diffi cult to identify and consider it too big an issue as their urban counterparts to engage.2 to tackle alone or because struggle to aff ord to heat their they don’t have the money or homes due to lower than average Instigating simple changes to inclination to instigate change, incomes, less energy your behaviour can also or simply because they don’t effi cient housing save you signifi cant know how. Volunteers in the and lack of access amounts of money on community can often be to cheaper fuel your energy bills and best placed to help their supplies. Historically, all generations can RURAL neighbours and the rural areas have also infl uence and benefi t HOUSEHOLDS wider community tackle benefi ted less from from wiser energy use ARE TWICE AS energy effi ciency. LIKELY TO energy effi ciency behaviours. These volunteers are STRUGGLE TO schemes and other AFFORD HEAT sometimes called services as it is often Unfortunately Energy Champions who less economically some households can help households to viable for service may struggle address these issues and in providers to deliver to change doing so help to bring aff ordable services to more their energy warmth, lower carbon emissions dispersed or remote consuming and promote more social communities. Also behaviour. inclusion in rural areas.

What is an Energy Champion?

An Energy Champion is someone who has the to households. They are not expected to be professional energy awareness qualiﬁ cations knowledge and skills to help others in their energy experts - rather they are equipped to provide an additional level of assistance communities to use energy in the most socially to be able to identify needs, promote simple when progressing activities in the community. conscious and environmentally friendly way. energy messages and be able to refer In short, someone who can enable others to householders on to sources of professional A successful network of Energy Champions improve the energy e ciency of their homes, advice and assistance as required. This is will be able to assist people with a variety save money on their energy supplies and particularly relevant in rural areas as rural of needs and aspirations. Remember that potentially save carbon. properties are very varied and may comprise those who need help most may well not be mixed construction types, be using di erent the people who put their hand up to ask for An Energy Champion is not necessarily an forms of heating and contain di erent types of it, or who come forward to volunteer. Extra energy expert. But they are equipped with householders who may require more tailored e orts should be made to engage or at least basic knowledge that can help them to advice that only specialists can provide. In communicate with those potentially less able identify needs and promote the availability of addition, where feasible it is recommended to request assistance and/or whose needs energy e ciency and other related services that champions have access to mentors with may not be easily identiﬁ able.

1 You can read more about the health impacts of living in a cold home in the Aff ordable Warmth Topic sheet. 2 Centre for Sustainable Energy, Quantifying Rural Fuel Poverty, August 2008

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Government policy Green Deal and Energy Company Obligations (ECO)

The Government has pioneered e ciency measures to is used to upgrade more HATE RISING the Green Deal to encourage tackle fuel poverty. ENERGY COSTS? hard-to-reach low-income households to become more households in rural areas. energy e cient and save money Energy Company • Carbon Saving Obligation on their energy bills. Obligation (ECO) is an This covers the installation of obligation on the ‘Big measures such as solid wall The Green Deal is aimed at 6’ energy providers to and hard-to-treat cavity wall households who want to improve deliver measures to low The Green Deal, set up by insulation which ordinarily Government, is a new way to their property but can’t a ord income households, pay for home improvements like insulation, double glazing or a new boiler. It lets you pay for can’t be ﬁ nanced solely some or all of the improvements over time through your electricity the upfront costs. The scheme vulnerable customers bill. Repayments will be no more than what a typical household should save in energy costs. through Green Deal. lets households pay for some and homeowners living Find out more at gov.uk/greendeal or all of the improvements over in older properties. £1.3 or call 0300 123 1234 • A ordable Warmth UP TO * time through their electricity bills. billion is available every £1020 Obligation CASHBACK(while funds last)

Repayments will be no more than year for energy e ciency *Based on installing solid wall insulation, loft insulation and a new boiler under the Green Deal. The Green Deal This provides heating and is not available in Northern Ireland. A different cashback scheme operates in Scotland. Full details available at gov.uk/greendeal. what a typical household should improvements. There are insulation measures to save in energy costs. three obligations under the ECO. consumers living in private tenure properties that receive The Government has developed • Carbon Saving Community particular means-tested benefits. the Green Deal to encourage Obligation See information box below. households to become energy This provides insulation Call the Energy Saving Advice e cient and has placed an measures to households in Service (England, Scotland and obligation on energy providers speciﬁ ed areas of low income. Wales) on 0300 123 1234 or to help the most vulnerable It also makes sure that 15% visit www.gov.uk/greendeal households take up energy of each supplier’s obligation

Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation

Households maybe able to get help • Pension Credit Extra conditions from energy saving improvements For certain benefi ts, one of the • Child Tax Credit (and your income to their homes if they are on certain following must also apply: is £15,860 or less) benefi ts and own or privately rent • You’re responsible for a child their homes. • Working Tax Credit (and your under 16 (or under 20 if they’re income is £15,860 or less) – plus in education or training) Households may get all or part of one of the extra conditions below the cost of: • Income Support – plus one of the • You get Disabled Child Premium • Loft or cavity wall insulation extra conditions below • You get Disability Premium • Boiler repairs or replacements • Income-based Jobseeker’s • You get Pensioner Premium Eligibility Allowance – plus one of the extra conditions below • You’re 60 or over (only if you You must own your property or rent get Working Tax Credit) it privately and have the owner’s • Income-related Employment and Contact the Energy Saving Advice permission to do the work. Support Allowance – plus the support or work related element, Service to fi nd out what help you You must receive one of the or one of the extra conditions can get – 0300 123 1234 following benefi ts: below.

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Case study 1: Rural Energy Champions An NEA initiative sponsored by the Department of Energy and Climate Change

Recognising that energy or “very good” (11 volunteers). In the NEA initiative the range champions are a great way of Similarly, their knowledge of of households engaged by disseminating information and solutions to fuel poverty markedly champions ranged between 0 encouraging action around improved too; before the training and 120 households depending fuel poverty and energy, DECC 14 said their knowledge was on the individual champion. supported NEA to develop an poor, 6 good and 2 very good. The champion that reached 120 initiative to do just that. In 2011-12 After the training 0 said their households did so by holding NEA worked with local partners in knowledge was poor, 24 said A CHAMPION village events and working with five areas to recruit 47 members it was “good” and 13 said USED FACEBOOK the local authority to undertake of the public to become energy “very good”. In the example TO PROMOTE FREE thermal imaging of properties in INSULATION champions. Champions were above the fact that the the area. Another assisted their TO THEIR recruited through local newsletter knowledge of the champions NETWORKS local authority with a mail-out of articles and community events. had increased was excellent; promotional information to 1,800 and thereafter this allowed the households. Interestingly, a further Champions were trained to offer champions to apply their learning champion used social media basic advice to local people in to provision of advice. including Facebook to promote the community settings (rather than availability of free insulation to their to people in their homes – to avoid Of the training, one participant networks. These examples reflect potential security issues and the said: “There’s excellent work being the diverse and creative ways that need for Criminal Records Bureau done – I am pleased to be able champions can employ to promote checks). Champions were also to play a part in it.” This reflects information to the public. provided with a simple information well the enthusiasm among and signposting resource to some people to become energy On being asked why their help them provide basic energy champions. However, maintaining involvement was so extensive, advice and to prompt referral on this enthusiasm should be a key one champion replied: “It is to available energy efficiency and consideration for any energy the volunteers….who have the other services. All champions were champion initiative. relationship and consequently also asked to keep a simple record the trust of folk who could well of their activities for reporting Participation levels in this NEA be entitled to some help to keep purposes. programme were lower than warm during winter. They are far initially expected. Working with more likely to be successful in existing local service providers was “There’s excellent work getting take up of any entitlements key in helping to raising the profile available…rather than strangers, or being done – I am of the initiative and encouraging others, coming in to make a brief pleased to be able to people to participate. It is worth one-time presentation and then noting that you may initially receive leave some leaflets.” play a part in it.” many more expressions of interest from local people keen to become All the champions benefited from energy champions than who an increased awareness of fuel subsequently undertake training. poverty and affordable warmth Therefore it is crucially important issues as a result of the initiative. that potential champions are kept To exemplify this, prior to the motivated throughout the process training the volunteers reported to maintain interest. their knowledge to be mainly either “poor” (15 volunteers), or “fair” In addition, the fact that champions (17 volunteers). Post awareness have been trained doesn’t training, their knowledge had necessarily mean that they will increased to “good” (28 volunteers) go on to be active participants.

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Case study 2: CORE: Calor oﬀ -gas rural energy champions’ initiative

NEA, with support from Calor Gas Ltd, developed an energy champions’ initiative in 2011-12 which sought to empower rural households without mains gas to achieve warmer, healthier and more energy effi cient homes. NEA worked to recruit frontline professionals as champions who had direct access to individuals (in either the home or in community settings) and provided them with basic awareness training to help them to understand how to identify households at risk of living in a cold home; to promote ‘top tips’ on how to achieve aff ordable warmth; and to signpost householders to services that champions benefi ted from could provide energy, income low-level support from mentors and money management and with recognised energy advice EMPOWERING debt advice as well as access to qualifi cations to provide more RURAL tailored support and advice insulation and heating schemes. HOUSEHOLDS TO on issues that arose during ACHIEVE ENERGY delivery of the initiative. Energy champions received EFFICIENT basic awareness resources HOMES to help promote messages The key to the initiative was that to households and to help champions were not expected signposting to services. All to be energy experts or to be intrusive with householders, rather they were tasked with The key to the initiative promoting pre-determined was that champions’ messages (the ‘top tips’) to anyone they engaged on a were not expected to daily basis. This approach be energy experts or can work equally as well for to be intrusive with any community-led energy champions’ initiative as householders, rather champions can be tasked with they were tasked promoting key messages to local with promoting pre- people in community settings that have a broad appeal (e.g. determined messages a ‘something for everyone’ (the ‘top tips’) to approach). anyone they engaged on a daily basis.

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Case study 3: Working with mothers as energy champions

raising events. The level of support required from the NEA mentor was significant and this was a key lesson learned for future initiatives. For example, events and transport were largely organised by the NEA mentor, and the role of the champions was merely to attend events and discuss energy issues with the public.

The initiative not only helped to raise public awareness of energy efficiency and services but also had broader outcomes. In particular, the confidence of the younger women grew significantly as a result of their The idea of energy champions that in developing an energy involvement. Furthermore, as is not a new one, though its champions’ initiative you have well as sharing her knowledge popularity is growing and the to consider the needs of your on energy efficiency with others concept can be applied in a target group and competing in their own local area, one variety of different settings pressures and priorities champion went on to engage and for different target they may have. Despite this, more generally in the children’s audiences. In 2003 NEA was NEA recruited a variety of centre and other community involved in an initiative which enthusiastic champions. All based activities. targeted mothers. Much of the champions were given energy recruitment and activity was awareness training and focused on children’s centres resources to help them and some of the activities use advice sheets included both mothers and their with others and THE INITIATIVE children. to record their HELPED RAISE activities. Crucially, AWARENESS they were also OF ENERGY The initiative not only incentivised with EFFICIENCY AND helped to raise public high street vouchers SERVICES awareness of energy to acknowledge the value of their commitment efficiency and services as champions. but also had broader Mothers of different generations outcomes. participated in the initiative and these women supported each Recruitment of volunteers other through the training and was initially more difficult then in delivering their own than expected – and reflects community-based awareness

— 9 — Energy efficiency made simple with Calor’s Home Energy Check Whether you’re looking at home improvements, want to cut carbon, or are simply interested in reducing your energy bills, Calor’s Home Energy Check is the place to start. Our online tool, powered by the Energy Saving Trust, can help you plan energy efficiency improvements specifically tailored to your home.

Discover how you can save money on your energy bills and become more energy efficient 1. Visit hec.calor.co.uk 2. Answer some simple questions about your home, lifestyle and energy preferences 3. We’ll provide you with a free energy efficiency report for your home and suggest improvements to help you save energy and money!

Find out how much you can save today at hec.calor.co.uk

The Calor Home Energy Check is a unique tool backed by the expertise of the Energy Saving Trust. Results are indicative of potential savings based on your answers and some common assumptions. Actual savings will depend on many factors. D0513 Community Guide Energy efficiency

Further information and support Information and help is available on energy efficiency. Good places to start:

• Local authorities The ACRE Network Your local authority may have an energy offer or someone with responsibility for energy, fuel poverty/affordable warmth or climate change/ ACRE members are charitable facts and information, using the sustainability issues. They may be located local development agencies, most appropriate consultation in the private sector housing, environmental generally based at county level, techniques and brokering health, community development, sustainable which support and enable the involvement of different development and/or health and wellbeing initiatives in rural communities. stakeholders to help deliver the departments actions you propose. ACRE members can help you • Energy agencies to develop a Community Plan Please visit the ACRE website Many areas have established agencies for your area. Using ACRE’s for more information, including undertaking energy related initiatives on a national Community Led contact details of your nearest not-for-profit basis – ask your local authority Planning Toolkit, they can ACRE member: for guidance or look online guide you through all aspects www.acre.org.uk/our-work/ • Energy Saving Trust of the process, from recruiting community-led-planning This web and telephone based organisation volunteers, researching local can give assistance on insulation and renewable energy. See www. energysavingtrust.org.uk or contact the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 National Energy Action (NEA) 1234 (local rates apply) • Health services National Energy Action is the NEA offers a range of You may wish to engage frontline health foremost energy efficiency information, training, policy practitioners in your initiative. Look in your and fuel poverty organisation and practical services to local phonebook or online at NHS Choices at in England. NEA has been members and others. www.nhs.uk for guidance on services available campaigning to alleviate fuel via Primary Care Trusts poverty for over 30 years. See NEA’s website: With expertise in developing www.nea.org.uk or contact • Council for Voluntary Service affordable warmth and NEA on 0191 261 5677. Your local CVS may be able to advise on renewable energy initiatives, community initiatives operating in the area – you may be able to link up. See the phonebook for contact details

• Energy companies Acknowledgements Energy companies offer a range of services for This resource was produced by Action with Communities in Rural customers and non-customers alike including England in collaboration with National Energy Action. Partners are access to energy efficiency schemes, priority grateful for the support of Calor Gas Ltd. services for vulnerable households, energy advice and so on. You may wish to promote or signpost these services as part of your initiative so check services online or contact suppliers direct – see the phone book for contact details

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Who we are

Action with Communities in Rural England is the national umbrella body for the 38 charitable local development agencies who make up the ACRE Network.

Our vision is to champion Advice and support is vibrant, sustainable, inclusive available on projects relating and diverse rural communities to housing; Neighbourhood by working in partnership with and Community-Led Planning; our members. transport, facilities and services; fuel poverty and energy generation; broadband; Our vision is to and community assets, such as village halls. champion vibrant, sustainable, inclusive For more information, or to find out how to contact your and diverse rural local ACRE member, please communities. visit our website at www.acre.org.uk

The Network

• employs approximately 1,000 staff with a variety of specialist skills

• engages in 1,300 different partnerships, including working with 58 different higher-tier local authorities

• has over 12,000 fee-paying members and

• reaches 40,000 grass roots contacts and organisations in the 11,000 rural communities across England Our members have years of experience in finding innovative solutions to the challenges facing rural communities.

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Action with Communities in Rural England, First Floor, Northway House West, The Forum, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2QY Tel: 01285 653477 Fax: 01285 654537 email: [email protected] Website: www.acre.org.uk

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