heatsavers – warm homes healthy people. october 12, 2015 2 introduction heatsavers – warm homes,...

HeatSavers – Warm Homes Healthy People

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HeatSavers –

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23 Kris McGowan

Teacher, Trainer, Volunteer, Senior Project Manager, Store Manager, Dad, Energy Expert …

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Multi national award winning social enterprise

Train, educate, inspire, challenge, in the field of energy and environmental issues

Established 1997

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In winter 2010-11 there were 23,700 EXCESS deaths in England alone. 27,000 in the whole of the UK

A large proportion of these are preventable.

You are here to learn how.

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By 2020, two out of three homes will pay EVEN MORE for their household bills than they do now.

Given wholesale energy price rises.

This is however avoidable through energy efficiency measures.

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Some believe that one in four households are in fuel poverty. This is excessive. But recent studies suggest that the figure may be as high as THREE in FIVE households

The West Midlands and in particular Shropshire has some of the highest rates of fuel poverty in the country

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23 What we will cover today:

What is fuel poverty? How can we identify need? Learn how to spot the signs Direct people to help Get people warmer and healthier Give you tools and expertise

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Fuel Poverty and the Cold Weather Plan

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23 Cold doesn’t kill

Poor heating Poor health Poor ventilation Low incomes

Finland is much colder every winter and has half the excess winter deaths

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23 Solutions

Insulate homes better Heat homes better Make sure access to

correct benefits Higher awareness

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The Cold Weather Plan was developed in partnership with:

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The CWP is a public health plan

Aim = to avoid the adverse health effects of winter by raising public awareness and triggering actions by those in contact with people most at risk

Sets out what needs to happen before and during periods of severe winter weather in England

CWP was launched on 1st November 2011

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The cold facts More people die during the winter than at other times of the

year 23,700 excess winter deaths in England in 2010-11

(average of 27,000 per year) This number can rise during very severe weather – 34,000

deaths in winter 2008-09Direct effects Heart attacks, stroke, respiratory disease,

flu, falls & injuries, hypothermia

Indirect effects Poor mental health, carbon monoxide poisoning

Health services Increased demand on health & emergency services

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Vulnerable groups Older people (age 75+) Young children Pre-existing medical conditions Living in poor quality housing Households at risk of fuel poverty

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Indoor temperaturesRecommended by WHO:

21ºC Recommended minimum daytime temperature for main rooms

18ºC Recommended minimum bedroom temperature at night

World Health Organization (1987) Health Impact of Low Indoor Temperatures: Report on a WHO meeting. Copenhagen: World Health Organization. Available at: http://tinyurl.com/3ghblbm

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Preventable These are predictable and largely preventable causes In most cases, simple actions could prevent illness,

injury and death Colder countries in Europe have fewer excess winter

deaths e.g. Finland has half the excess winter death rate of

England Colder countries are much better prepared for cold

weather: Well-insulated, well-heated, energy-efficient homes Warm outdoor clothing

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Benefits ofhousing improvements Improving housing conditions can lead to significant

improvements in health and wellbeing(Howden-Chapman et al, 2007)

A recent study showed that investing £1 in keeping homes warm could save the NHS up to 42p in health costs(Liddell, 2008)

Better self-rated health 50% in fair/poor health

Fewer days off school 51%

Fewer days off work 38%

Fewer visits to GP 27%

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Benefits ofbehaviour change Protective behaviours (seen in colder countries):

Keeping houses warmer Wearing adequate clothing outdoors

Potential barriers: Practical issues (e.g. fuel poverty) Many older people do not view themselves as vulnerable or at

risk during winter

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Cold Weather Alert levels A series of escalating alerts will be issued depending on severity,

duration & geographical spread of cold weather conditions CWP sets out actions at 4 levels:

Level 1 Winter preparedness

Level 2 Severe winter weather is forecast (Alert & readiness)60% risk of severe cold weather lasting at least 48 hours forecast to arrive within next 2-3 days

Level 3 Response to severe winter weather(Severe weather action)

Level 4 Major incident (Emergency response)Severe winter weather affecting large parts of the country & critical services

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ofColdWeatherAlerts

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Examples of actionsLevel 1 Identify individuals who are at particular risk from severe cold

weather Work with at-risk individuals, their families and carers to ensure

that they are aware of the dangers of cold weather and how to keep warm

Level 2 When visiting clients, check room temperatures to ensure that

clients are warm Consider how the forecast weather conditions may impact on your

work

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23 What is fuel poverty?What is fuel poverty?

Fuel poverty is the inability to adequately heat Fuel poverty is the inability to adequately heat the home and a household needs to spend 10% the home and a household needs to spend 10% or more of its income in order to maintain a or more of its income in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.satisfactory heating regime.

Low household income, poor insulation Low household income, poor insulation standards, inefficient or expensive heating standards, inefficient or expensive heating systems and under-occupancy of properties.systems and under-occupancy of properties.

Many older people require extra warmth as a Many older people require extra warmth as a result of age or disability and lack of access to result of age or disability and lack of access to mains gas supply denies many rural households mains gas supply denies many rural households the benefits of the most efficient and effective the benefits of the most efficient and effective form of heating.form of heating.

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What factors contribute to Fuel Poverty?IncomeFuel CostsHousing type (heating and insulation)

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Income…

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Fuel Costs

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Average energy use in the UKGas = 16,500 kWhElectricity = 3,300 kWhAverage dual fuel cost per year £1,335

Shropshire £1,527

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Are our energy bills Are our energy bills higher?higher?

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Are our energy bills Are our energy bills higher?higher?

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Shropshire’s fuel poverty Shropshire’s fuel poverty stats..stats..Every year the health of Every year the health of 360360 people in people in

Shropshire will be adversely affected as a direct Shropshire will be adversely affected as a direct result of their homes being poorly insulated or result of their homes being poorly insulated or the heating system being inadequate. the heating system being inadequate.

As a result, As a result, 114114 of these will lose their lives. of these will lose their lives.

The cost to the NHS is over The cost to the NHS is over £6 million£6 million. . One-off work to improve or repair cold homes is One-off work to improve or repair cold homes is

approximately approximately £1.5 million£1.5 million. .

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What is Shropshire What is Shropshire HeatSavers?HeatSavers?

An ‘in-kind, low cost’ referral system between An ‘in-kind, low cost’ referral system between Housing and Health. Any health Housing and Health. Any health professional/volunteer visiting a patient/client professional/volunteer visiting a patient/client can use a simple Affordable Warmth Checklist to can use a simple Affordable Warmth Checklist to determine whether fuel poverty exists and then determine whether fuel poverty exists and then refer directly to the housing advisers at refer directly to the housing advisers at Shropshire Council through a dedicated email to Shropshire Council through a dedicated email to Shropshire HeatSavers.Shropshire HeatSavers.

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23 In summary

Cold Weather deaths and illness are preventable

Warmer, better insulated homes will help, better access to services and the correct benefits will make significant difference

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Some Exercises to warm us up!

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26% Roof

33% Walls

18% Windows

3% Doors

12% Ventilation & Draughts

8% Floors

Draw a picture of a house

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What are the signs of fuel poverty or cause for concern? House condition Heating system Person’s health/ outward appearance Debt Overall energy use

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Things that you will spot IllnessWhat do they say?What can you see?

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Referring householders for help

Case Study: What can happen?

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60+ Boiler Broken Mr Stanson

recently had a number of operations

Cold exacerbating problems

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Case

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Customer services referred them to HeatSavers

20/12/11 2 emergency

radiators delivered the next day

Officer from Housing Assistance Team visits

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Case

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Application completed for Emergency Heating Grant

All eligibility criteria met

£1900 grant for new boiler and fitting

Warm home for Christmas!

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Over to you!

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shropshireheatsavers@shropshire.gov.uk

Thank you!

Good luck!

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