HeatSavers – Warm Homes Healthy People

1. HeatSavers – Warm Homes Healthy People

2. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Kris McGowan Introduction Teacher, Trainer, Volunteer, Senior Project Manager, Store Manager, Dad, Energy Expert …

3. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Marches Energy Agency Multi national award winning social enterprise Train, educate, inspire, challenge, in the field of energy and environmental issues Established 1997 Introduction

4. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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. Introduction

5. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 Introduction

6. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Introduction

7. Fuel Poverty and the Cold Weather Plan

8. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

9. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Solutions • Insulate homes better • Heat homes better • Make sure access to correct benefits • Higher awareness Fuel Poverty + CWP

10. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People The Cold Weather Plan was developed in partnership with: Fuel Poverty + CWP

11. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

12. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 2008-09 Fuel Poverty + CWP

13. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Vulnerable groups Older people (age 75+) Young children Pre-existing medical conditions Living in poor quality housing Households at risk of fuel poverty Fuel Poverty + CWP

14. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Indoor temperatures Recommended 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

15. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

16. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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) Fuel Poverty + CWP

17. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

18. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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: Fuel Poverty + CWP

19. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People CascadeofColdWeatherAlerts Fuel Poverty + CWP

20. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Examples of actions Level 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

21. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People What is fuel poverty? Fuel poverty is the inability to adequately heat the home and a household needs to spend 10% or more of its income in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime. Low household income, poor insulation standards, inefficient or expensive heating systems and under-occupancy of properties. Many older people require extra warmth as a result of age or disability and lack of access to mains gas supply denies many rural households the benefits of the most efficient and effective form of heating. Fuel Poverty + CWP

22. Are our energy bills higher?

23. Are our energy bills higher?

24. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Shropshire’s fuel poverty stats.. Every year the health of 360 people in Shropshire will be adversely affected as a direct result of their homes being poorly insulated or the heating system being inadequate. As a result, 114 of these will lose their lives. The cost to the NHS is over £6 million. One-off work to improve or repair cold homes is approximately £1.5 million. Fuel Poverty + CWP

25. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People What is Shropshire HeatSavers? An ‘in-kind, low cost’ referral system between Housing and Health. Any health professional/volunteer visiting a patient/client can use a simple Affordable Warmth Checklist to determine whether fuel poverty exists and then refer directly to the housing advisers at Shropshire Council through a dedicated email to Shropshire HeatSavers. Fuel Poverty + CWP

26. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People 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 Fuel Poverty + CWP

27. Some Exercises to warm us up!

28. 26% Roof Draw a picture of a house 18% Windows Exercises 33% Walls 3% Doors 12% Ventilation & Draughts 8% Floors

29. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People What are the signs of fuel poverty or cause for concern? • House condition • Heating system • Person’s health/ outward appearance • Debt • Overall energy use Exercises

30. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Things that you will spot • Illness • What do they say? • What can you see? Exercises

31. Referring householders for help

34. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Referral Form • Complete as many parts as possible. • Make sure the client signs the form Referrals

35. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Send forms to the AGE UK office • They will then pass the details on to Shropshire HeatSavers • More points = more urgent • Benefits Team (increase income) • Housing Team (housing condition, emergency heating, grants) • Keep Shropshire Warm (insulation, grants, tariff switching) • Shropshire Home Services (handyperson, minor/ extensive works) • Just Credit Union (low cost loans) • AGE UK will be informed of the outcome and progress Referrals

36. Case Study: What can happen?

37. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Mr + Mrs Stanson • 60+ • Boiler Broken • Mr Stanson recently had a number of operations • Cold exacerbating problems Case Study

38. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Mr + Mrs Stanson • Customer services referred them to HeatSavers • 20/12/11 • 2 emergency radiators delivered the next day • Officer from Housing Assistance Team visits Case Study

39. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Mr + Mrs Stanson • Application completed for Emergency Heating Grant • All eligibility criteria met • £1900 grant for new boiler and fitting • Warm home for Christmas! Case Study

40. Over to you!

41. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Some free tools: Over to you!

42. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Over to you!

43. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People Over to you!

44. HeatSavers – Warm Homes, Healthy People shropshireheatsavers@shropshire.gov.uk Thank you! Good luck! Over to you!