Transition Island Communities: Empowering Localities to Act (TrIsCo) Project part-financed by the European Union

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1 Transition Island Communities: Empowering Localities to Act (TrIsCo)

2 TrIsCo Aims To enable different islands of communities (households, businesses and public bodies) to reduce their Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions by changing their attitudes and behaviour towards resource use Embed sustainability (social, economic and environmental) into behaviour change drivers; Overcome barriers to implementing low carbon communities TrIsCo is part financed through the POWER programme from EU Interreg IVC.

3 The Partnership the Environment Centre (tec) An environmental charity from South East England, UK ACER Reggio Emilia A Social housing operator representing 45 municipalities and the Province of Reggio Emilia, Italy Universídad de Sevilla The University of Seville, Andalucía, Spain Stichting Brabantse Milieufederatie A not for profit organisation from North Brabant, the Netherlands Region Gotland The Municipality of Gotland, Sweden Viimsi Vallavalitsus The rural Municipality of Viimsi, Estonia

4 Key Outcomes Empowering CO 2 Reduction catalogue the catalogue will showcase best practices across the partner regions, and contain instruments and initiatives that will enable public bodies, businesses and communities to take action and assess their own success A simple Energy Assessment Tool is being developed which will calculate a buildings CO 2 emissions and can demonstrate areas for potential improvement Through the collective experiences of the partnership, the catalogue is designed to be useful to communities and organisations throughout Europe, whatever their current involvement in the climate change debate. The project will evaluate and advertise the CO 2 savings of the communities, and the consequences of these savings, so they can see that they are making a real difference, thus encouraging further behaviour change.

5 Project Activities Project activities include: Study Tours and Interregional Events Simple Energy Assessment Tool Business Workshops and Seminars Education programmes Community events Action packs for resident Solar & Biomass Heating Fair, Gotland, Sweden PSG Meeting, Gotland, Sweden

6 Best Practice: Climate Street Party Competition Location: The Netherlands Aims: To make the general public more conscious about their energy consumption and how CO 2 emissions affect the environment To encourage and inspire people to take action both individually and with their neighbours. Concept: Government funded country-wide initiative where individuals and streets compete to be as climate friendly as possible. Each member of the street can earn points by taking energy saving measures The street as a whole can also earn points by organizing activities

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8 Best Practice: Climate Street Party Competition Climate Street Party Website Individuals make a personal account Points are awarded for: Taking energy saving actions their house Taking energy saving actions with their neighbors Recruit new participants The Party The 500 best streets win a party package Each participating address receives 25 in food coupons The best street wins a fully organized party including BBQ and a performance by famous artist

9 Best Practice: Energy Monitor Loan Scheme Location: Hampshire, UK Duration: 6 months Aim: OWL Electricity Monitor To increase homeowners awareness of energy use in the home To reduce electricity waste, CO 2 emissions and utility bills To allow homeowners to see which appliances and devices use the most energy and see the effects of switching these off Baselining electricity use: through assessing previous bills A period where participants install the monitor but maintain their usual behaviour This is recorded on the monitor and provides a secondary baseline

10 Best Practice: Energy Monitor Loan Scheme Support: Short information session - focussing on how to read bills, understanding and installing the monitors An information pack including: an easy installation guide, step-by-step guide (what residents should be doing), and a data recording sheet A feedback session at the end of the scheme to discuss experience, find out how much energy, CO 2 and money was saved Communications: A free phone advice line for tips about energy saving in the home TrIsCo web pages- participants can send tec their meter readings and post comments about their experiences. E-shots with useful tips, reminders etc.

11 Fuel Poverty Where poor housing conditions + low income mean that the household cannot afford enough warmth for health and comfort UK definition: A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend 10% or more of its income on fuel to maintain an adequate level of warmth.

12 Recommended temperatures 70ºF 21ºC 64ºF 59ºF 53ºF 48ºF 18ºC 15ºC 12ºC 9ºC Comfortable temperatures Some discomfort but no serious health risks Discomfort and risk of respiratory disease, bronchitis, etc Risk of heart problems, strokes, etc Risk of hypothermia

13 The Big Picture more than 5 million households in the UK can t afford to keep adequately warm in winter Source: CSE Over Twice as many as in 2004 More than 1 in 5 households faced fuel poverty this winter (2009/2010) Source: NEA

14 Who is affected by Fuel Poverty? Pensioners (people aged over 60), unemployed, low income and those suffering from long-term illness over 50% of people in fuel poverty are pensioners 70% of people in fuel poverty live in privately rented or owner occupied property (55% owner occupied) Estimated 36,700 excess winter deaths in England & Wales in 2008/09, a 49% increase on previous year - highest since 1999/2000. ONS

15 Fuel Poverty: Causes and Effects Causes Low Income Fuel Prices Under Occupancy Energy Inefficiency Effects Respiratory (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia) Circulatory (thrombosis, strokes, heart attacks) Hypothermia Poor quality of life; poor nutrition low self esteem, poor hygiene

16 Addressing Fuel Poverty: National Level Tackling fuel poverty is a key UK government priority. The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy 2001 outlines the government s commitment to address this issue. The Fuel Poverty Strategy has policies to target the three main factors that influence fuel poverty: household energy efficiency fuel prices household income The main instruments for addressing these concerns are: Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Warm Front and the Decent Homes programme. CERT requires all domestic energy suppliers with over 50,000 customers, to reduce their customers CO 2 emissions. There is a total target of 293 Mt (lifetime CO 2 ) savings to be made by December Energy companies have taken action by subsidising professionally installed loft & cavity wall insulation for priority groups: low-income households households on certain benefits people aged over 70 years

17 Addressing Fuel Poverty: National Level The Warm Front initiative provides a one-off grant for homeowners to make heating and insulation improvements to their properties. The scheme aims to make homes warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. The funding is up to 3,500 (~ 4,000) to replace a broken or old / inefficient heating system with a modern system. For houses which are heated by oil there is up to 6,000 available to replace the existing heating system. Decent Homes Standard (2000) The government has stated that to be decent a home should be warm, weatherproof and have reasonably modern facilities. The standard also applies to vulnerable households living in private sector homes. In its Green Paper Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All the Government set two targets: 1. To reduce by 1/3 the number of social housing properties which fail the Standard by To have all social rented homes meeting the Standard by 2010

18 Addressing Fuel Poverty: National Level In October 2010 the UK Government announced its decision to commission a review at the fuel poverty target and definition in order to focus its resources effectively. As part of the review stakeholders have been asked to submit evidence relating to: The nature of the issues at the core of fuel poverty What makes fuel poverty distinct from poverty defined in various ways The impacts of fuel poverty, its extent and who it most affects Whether the current definition of and target for fuel poverty allow the issues at its core to be tackled effectively and, if not, how the definition and any associated target might be amended to address this Whether, and to what extent, the current definition of fuel poverty allows Government to focus resources and policies on those who most need support The cost-effectiveness of measures to address fuel poverty (including measures impacting on income, fuel bills and thermal efficiency of homes) How, under any definition, the fuel poor can best be identified and help targeted to them As part of the TrIsCo project and tec s other work on fuel poverty, we have submitted a response which called for the training of front line staff to increase awareness and access to support and advice

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20 Addressing Fuel Poverty: Local Level tec provides a number of services to address fuel poverty. Free Phone Advice Line tec has a number of qualified and experience energy advisors who offer friendly and impartial advice on a range of energy saving measures: - grants, loans and discounts - heating - top tips for reducing householders energy use - renewable energy tec hosts a successful referral service for loft and cavity wall insulation. tec acts as a point of contact for customers and installation companies. tec only refers to installers registered with CIGA (Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency), an independent body that ensures a 25 year guarantee on the work carried out.

21 tec & Fuel Poverty Staff Training Training for front line staff (of local authorities and primary care trusts for example) who make home visits as part of their everyday work. The sessions focus on: How to identify fuel poverty Solutions for improving the energy efficiency of homes Help available (grants, loans, advice)

22 Find out more For more information about the project including upcoming events, reports and newsletters visit the TrIsCo web pages: ACER Reggio Emilia, Italy the Environment Centre (tec), UK Contact: Alessandro Viglioli Contact: Adam Goulden Tel: Tel: +44 (0) Web: Web: Stichting Brabantse Milieufederatie (BMF), Viimsi Vallavalitsus, Estonia the Netherlands Contact: Arianne Vijge Contact: Enno Selirand Tel: +31 (0) Tel: Web: Website: Region Gotland, Sweden Universidad de Sevilla, Spain Contact: Helena Andersson Contact: Madelyn Marrero-Melendez Tel: +46 (498) Tel: Website: Website: