Energy company British Gas is going on the offensive with a number of projects to help thousands of people on low incomes cut their energy use and lower their fuel bills.

A multi-million energy efficiency programme has seen British Gas sign agreements with ten communities across the country to help local authorities and charities assess the best energy efficiency measures to install on a community-wide basis.

British Gas say this will be a campaign worth around £70 million and measures will include insulation, draught-proofing and heating schemes, as well as home energy assessments across a wide range of housing stock.

The approach to be adopted by British Gas is known as ‘whole house’ and means that measures will be decided according to what best fits local housing and will involve the entire house instead of a single measure on a one size fits all basis.

British Gas use Walsall for an example, where work is expected to include external solid wall insulation and switching homes from high cost electricity heaters, to lower cost gas central heating.

Work in all the projects will not just take in energy efficiency measures, but will also include a range of related services such as benefits assessments. In the case of Walsall, it represents part of The Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) which is a joint initiative between energy suppliers, power generators and the Government. The total value of energy efficiency measures installed here will be around £350 million.

Over 90,000 households are expected to benefit from The Community Energy Saving Programme which targets low income families. The programme is unique in helping the hard to reach people who have typically not benefited from other national energy efficiency initiatives.

And the programme is also thought capable of saving four million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas said:
“Households account for a quarter of the UK’s total CO2 emissions. By focusing on homes, and in particular vulnerable communities which have been traditionally hard to reach, we can make a significant impact on our national carbon footprint and cut the bills of Britain’s most hard-pressed families.

“As the country’s biggest energy supplier we are well-placed to take the lead in helping people become more energy efficient. This is why we’re very pleased to be the first energy supplier to begin CESP projects.”

On behalf of the Government, the Energy and Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock lent her support to the first wave of CESP projects and said:

“I’m pleased that British Gas has been so quick off the mark to begin work in these ten areas and identifying the communities that will benefit. The Community Energy Saving Programme will help some of the lowest income households across Britain tackle fuel poverty. I look forward to hearing about the other energy company plans which will ultimately benefit around 90,000 homes over the next three years.”

As well as working with local authorities, British Gas will also liaising with a number of charities including Scope, Help the Aged, Money Advice Trust and the RNIB.

Sian Mexsom, Head of Fundraising Partnerships at Age Concern and Help the Aged, said:
“We’re delighted to be able to support British Gas in such a tremendously important programme. Through our work, we reach out to disadvantaged older people across the UK who tell us how they’re forced to live in just one heated room of their house in the colder winter months. We’re hopeful the CESP projects will help change this.”

Homes in Birmingham, Chester, Dundee, Glasgow, Haringey, Swansea, Knowsley, Preston, Southwark and Walsall will be in the first wave of The Community Energy Saving Programme.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Two villages owned by the National Trust are about to be helped in a project funded by nPower to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The community led project is similar to the Government’s Low Carbon Community Challenge. It is designed to show how major energy efficiency improvements are achievable in homes of any age – not just modern buildings – with savings possible from the biggest mansion to the average family house.

nPower is the National Trust’s energy partner and the £600,000 project is being trialled at the villages of Coleshill in Oxfordshire and the Wallington Estate in Northumberland. Both are owned by the National Trust and in all, involves 62 houses at Coleshill and 73 cottages and 14 farms at Wallington, with properties dating from the 1850s and 1750s respectively.

Each village will make the decision as to what measures to take to reduce their carbon footprints with the added incentive of making savings to their energy bills.

The focus for residents at Coleshill was to initially find out their current energy consumption and carbon emissions as a starting point so that any success could be measured. It was discovered that they were slightly higher than the national average of 6.15 tonnes, coming in at 7.57 tonnes of CO2 every year.

In Wallington, they equated to an average of 9.5 tonnes of CO2 per property per year and the difference over the Coleshill residents is said to be because like a third of all rural areas in the UK, Wallington is off the gas network which means they have to rely on carbon-intensive oil and electricity for heating. This pushes up carbon levels as well as the bills.

Celia Robbins, the National Trust’s project manager at Wallington, said: “By introducing our energy efficiency measures and helping people understand their energy use we hope to make a real difference to both people’s pockets and to the environment.

“Installing sheep’s wool loft insulation and improving the efficiency of off-grid electricity generation will reduce Wallington’s carbon footprint by more than 10%.

“On advice from nPower’s energy advisor, we are also encouraging residents to monitor their electricity with a Smart Meter n which shows how much any appliance uses every six seconds. Using the display can be quite a revelation because although electricity is invisible this helps people see exactly how much they use and the associated costs.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Now that the 2009/2010 winter season is nearly upon us, lets not forget those pesky cold draughts.

And despite people moaning about their heating bills and the continued high cost of energy, the average household will still lose 20% of its heat thought draughts and bad ventilation.

So draught proofing is a must for all householders. And people are going to have to consider the worst offending spots – such as letterboxes, skirting boards, floorboards, window and doorframes, and down chimneys – if they want to help reduce their heating bills.

And it needn’t be an expensive job, with many products comfortably under the £20 price tag.

Lets take an obvious one first. In many houses, letterboxes are veritable gaping holes to the outside world. Here you must employ a draught excluder that lets letters in, but also one which is sealed enough to keep the icy air out unless the postman is doing his business. Buy one which is strong, blends in with your style of door, but also does the trick when the wind blows.

Now, cold air whistling down an unused chimney is only slightly worse than all that expensively generated hot air rushing up it. So the modern way to prevent that happening is buying a chimney balloon. Usually made from a strong laminate, a chimney balloon is basically a bag which is inflated in the cavity to make a snug fit and keep the cold air outside and the warm air inside. The bags are tear resistant and long lasting.

With floorboard draughts. so much heat can be lost that it is worth spending a little time and money seeing how you can keep the cold air out. The best solution here is to use a filler which fills the holes without spoiling the look of the floorboards, or falling away when the boards naturally expand and contract with the changes in temperature. This technique has the added advantage of keeping out noise, insects and smells.

Door draughts are often over-looked, but a door that is not snug to the floor, can be equivalent to having a window open on a winter’s day. And here it’s a very simple solution and one which has stood the test of time. Invest in a snappy snake door draught excluder. Basically a long length of hard wearing material filled with say grain, or other absorbing material, a snake draught excluder will help keep those chilly blasts out of the room.

So, be prepared for the winter. Stop those draughts and help your energy bills.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Today is the start of National Energy Week and it runs to the 25 October, 2009.

It’s an annual event organised by the Energy Saving Trust and this is the 13th one of its kind. Organisations, companies and individuals are encouraged to get behind the sentiments and ambitions of the week.

And the main focus this time is on Waste. And the objective is to help people across the UK stop wasting their Time, Money and Energy.

The Energy Saving Trust has given each day a mini-theme:

• Monday (wasteful behaviour and launch day);
• Tuesday (warmer homes, insulation);
• Wednesday (smarter driving day, transport);
• Thursday (switch off/turn down/turn off day);
• Friday (buy better day).

Karen Lawrence, head of advice, at the Energy Saving Trust, goes at length to explain:
“Climate change is arguably one of the most important global issues now affecting millions of UK households. It is no longer just a Government problem to be tackled on a policy level, but something everyone is thinking about on a daily basis. We’ve all been asked to change certain daily habits: dustbin-days have gone topsy-turvy as councils re-think their recycling programmes, major supermarkets now charge shoppers for carrier bags forcing us to think twice before using plastic bags.

“We’re constantly being shown targets and timelines – telling us what the nation has to achieve and by when – to help fight climate change. But how on earth are we expected to fit an eco-rich lifestyle into our time-poor lives? Energy Saving Week is the perfect opportunity to discover your green/life balance. We’re urging people to take time to make time to change their household habits to help fight climate change.”

And Lewisham Council is one such organisation having a go. Throughout National Energy Week it is reminding residents they can help save money, as well as the environment, with the help of free ‘smart meters’.

These are superb gadgets which basically tell an energy consumer how much electricity is being used in their house, as well as what it costs them per hour. Also known as energy monitors, the smart meters can cut an average household bill by at least £100 over a year, without the need to lose warmth, or comfort.

And Lewisham Council has, over the past year, lent out 250 meters to residents in the Borough.

What’s more, as part of their awareness campaign, Lewisham Council has teamed up with Sydenham School to help raise awareness amongst young people about energy conservation. Participating pupils are asked to take home smart meters over the half term holiday period to measure how much electricity they use.

Barbara Williams, head teacher at Sydenham School, said:
“If we’re really serious about tackling climate change, we should start by trying to change the behaviour of our children and their families. We need to help them understand the level of their electricity use and how to reduce it. We’re aiming for a 10% cut in their electricity bills!”

And Councillor Chris Best, Cabinet Member for Community Services at Lewisham Council, said:
“Smart meters are available free, to library users, from all Lewisham libraries. The meters can be loaned for three weeks, just like taking out a library book.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Top boiler manufacturer Baxi has announced that it has become a brand partner of the Government’s ACT ON CO2 campaign.

Baxi joins the likes of Ford, John Lewis and Michelin who are already in the campaign, and all are helping people save money, save energy and reduce their CO2 emissions.

The campaign is a cross-government initiative involving the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Department for Transport and the Department for Communities and Local Government, and is designed to highlight how individuals can act to make a difference over CO2 emissions.

Geraldine Clegg, Baxi’s marketing communications manager, said:
“The company is committed to producing and promoting products that meet increasingly demanding environmental standards. We’re delighted to become a partner in this campaign. At the heart of our product development strategy is our commitment to help the UK population cut its CO2 emissions.

“Replacing a boiler older than ten years by installing a new high efficiency condensing boiler can cut CO2 emissions as well as save householders hundreds of pounds each year. We believe that through offering the best products and the best customer care and advice, we can play a large part in reducing CO2 emissions across the UK.”

As a brand partner, part of Baxi’s role will be to share energy and money saving tips with their customers.

These include:

1. Ensure that you are using your heating controls correctly. Review your boiler and cylinder thermostat, time programmer and thermostatic radiator valve settings and re-set them to match your needs more closely in terms of timing and comfort. And as the weather warms up, make sure you turn down your boiler settings to match the temperature.
2. Ensure you are not blocking precious heat from radiators by furniture or curtains.
3. Always fit reflective insulation panel boards on walls behind the radiators, especially if it’s an outside wall. Rigid reflective radiator panels are an ideal solution, if you don’t want to, or can’t, take your radiators off the walls.
4. Ensure your boiler is serviced once a year and this will mean it will work as efficiently, safely and reliably as possible. Typically, this will cost around £140.

The announcement over the ACT ON CO2 Campaign follows on from news that Baxi is celebrating success after one of its combination boilers was voted ‘Best Buy’ by leading consumer magazine Which?

The magazine tested 52 boilers from a selection of leading manufacturers for fuel consumption, durability, energy efficiency and emissions. Each was then evaluated by a CORGI registered gas installer on how easy it was to install, service and use.

The Baxi boiler in question was the Duo-tec Combi 28 HE which had the best score at 79%. It won five-star ratings for performance, efficiency, NOx emissions (Nitrogen Oxide), installation and features.

The Baxi Duo-tec Combi 28 HE is no stranger to fame, having previously won Boiler of the Year 2008 in the CORGI Boiler of The Year awards.

Guest Article by Neil Camp