Language of ‘energy poverty’ stigmatizes citizens, says new study

Policymakers are being urged to rethink the language they use to describe people struggling to pay their energy bills in new research published today. 

The paper, from the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) argues that terms like “the energy poor” or “the fuel poor” implicitly stigmatises people while ignoring structural problems with global energy systems.

The authors, from universities in the UK, Mexico, Hong Kong, and the US, have found popular terminology places blame on individuals rather than addressing systemic issues. They point to inadequate energy infrastructure, policy failures and socio-economic marginalisation which have left people unable to heat or cool their homes.

Lead author Professor Stefan Bouzarovski from the University of Manchester told That's Home and Household: “Language shapes how we understand societal challenges. By continuing to use victim-blaming and stigmatising terms, we risk reinforcing the very inequalities we aim to solve.”

The paper draws on a review of over 500 academic and policy sources and calls for more inclusive and participatory language.

Successful examples from New Zealand and Mexico show how involving communities and focusing on people's needs have led to better policy design.

“Researchers and policymakers are increasingly calling for energy transitions to be just and fair. Rhetoric like ‘leaving no one behind’ can come across as top down and even patronising. To be truly inclusive and create the conditions for real change, we need to move beyond labels that reduce people to their hardships, and work with communities to develop more inclusive energy policy language that reflects people’s lived experience” said Professor Mari Martiskainen of the University of Sussex, and EDRC director.

The paper encourages using language that doesn’t blame individuals for struggles like high energy bills, since these problems come from bigger social and economic issues. The authors call for processes where people, communities, scientists and policymakers develop terminology and narratives together, for example via citizens panels. The paper aims to open a discussion on what a truly people-centre energy transition would mean in both language and practice.

https://www.edrc.ac.uk/

npower launches insulation scheme to get homes warm this winter

npower has launched a scheme to help homeowners warm up their home and reduce energy wastage. Savvy DIY experts can now buy loft insulation for £1 a roll from npower's partner Build Center, meaning the average three bedroom semi-detached home can be insulated for less than £20.  £19, to be exact.

The scheme, open to everyone regardless of whether they are an npower energy customer or not, also offers free delivery to help ease the process. Furthermore, npower has also developed a video to help novices complete the DIY loft insulation job step by step.

The scheme forms part of npower's Government obligations to help homeowners cut the amount of energy that's wasted in the UK each year. The Energy Saving Trust anticipates that homes could save as much as £175 a year on their heating bills and around 720 kilograms of carbon dioxide a year, just by installing the recommended 270mm depth of loft insulation.  (EDITOR: And all for an outlay of under 20 quid!)

Bob Jackson, energy efficiency and policy manager for the energy supplier, commented on the scheme: "As an energy company, npower takes its commitment to the environment and to consumers extremely seriously. Rising wholesale fuel costs mean that many people find themselves struggling to pay their utility bills. The £1 a roll offer will help more people to make massive reductions, and savings in their bills and benefits from a warmer home during the long, cold winter months.

"We also know that not everyone is able to install their own loft insulation. That's why we also offer professional loft insulation meaning teveryone can benefit from the heat savings."

For more information and to buy insulation at £1 a roll while stocks last, householders can visit www.npower.com/diyinsulation call 0845 270 8250 or pop in to their local Build Centre.

www.npower.com

No boiler cover to save money? Please think again!

The Indian summer is well and truly over and as the British public resign themselves to another long winter season, many households will inevitably be reaching for the thermostat to stave off the cold weather.

Jon Ingram, product director at Energychoices.co.uk commented: "UK consumers everywhere are tightening their belts with many households waiting until the last possible moment before switching on the central heating in order to save money. However, many do not consider what will happen if their boiler breaks down, needing costly repairs or replacing altogether.

"If your boiler fails it can be frighteningly expensive to replace – an extra outlay that consumers can ill afford in the run up to Christmas. Furthermore, if the money to pay for repairs is not immediately available then you can be left without basic amenities like hot water and heat fro your home for some time.

"Boiler cover can offer homeowners the peace of mind that their central heating system will be repaired swiftly without having to fork out a huge amount. So if your boiler is looking a bit long in the tooth, we would urge you to compare boiler insurance deals and get covered.

"Remember - you are not obliged to take out cover from your energy supplier and whilst there are some expensive insurance plans out there, with a little research you needn't pay over the odds."

Energychoices.co.uk's top tips for choosing boiler cover:

1. Do you actually need cover? – If you are only renting, it is your landlord's responsibility to take out boiler insurance and have it repaired if it breaks down. If you own your own home and already have buildings and contents insurance, it is worth checking if your boiler is already covered, or if at least part of the cost is already met in the event of any emergency repairs.

2. Had a boiler fitted recently? – If your boiler is quite new, it may already be covered under warranty. Check the paperwork to see how long you are covered for, otherwise you may end up paying out for boiler cover that you simply don't need.

3. Check the age of your boiler – Most boiler plans exclude models that are over 15 years old, and any models older than 7 years may have to undergo an inspection. Remember to check that your particular brand is covered as some of the older makes are sometimes excluded.

4. 'Boiler only' or 'full heating system' cover? – The cheapest boiler insurance policies only cover the cost of the boiler and controls but if you are willing to shell out a little extra you can ensure cover for your entire heating system, including radiators and pipes.

5. What is considered an emergency? – Some insurance providers don't think that a lack of hot water constitutes an emergency, whilst others will only rush to fix your boiler in the winter months. Make sure you know exactly what your boiler insurance provider considers an emergency so you aren't left waiting around in the cold for them to get around to fixing your boiler.

6. No claims period – Most new plans have a no-claims period to prevent people signing up on the day their boiler breaks down and then making a claim. The majority of no-claims periods last 30 days so bear in mind that you won't be covered during that time.

7. Compare suppliers – It is essential to shop around for a policy using a reliable price comparison site as there is a huge variation in prices and features for boiler insurance. Remember: the cheapest cover may not necessarily be the best value so make sure you read the small print BEFORE you sign up.

FACTFILE:
Energychoices.co.uk was launched in 2005 and offers comprehensive and impartial advice on home energy services.

At Energychoices.co.uk you can research and compare offers on gas and electricity suppliers and learn how to get more from your existing energy supplier.

They also offer advice on a range of boiler, heating, electrical and draining cover options and everything from choosing the right boiler to how to get your boiler serviced.

Whatever your needs, Energychoices.co.uk offers a fair and unbiased view of the market, looking at long term value and price savings on gas and electricity bills above the marketing hype.

New study reveals confusing energy landscape for consumers

Energy providers are falling short of consumer expectations and keeping them in the dark over the benefits of smart meters.That's a new and worrying claim by a new report.

The UK’s energy providers are falling short in providing energy efficiency initiatives that meet consumer demands and failing to educate on the money-saving benefits of the smart meter rollout, according to a new study from Navetas Energy Management. The study also uncovered a confusing energy landscape for consumers, with the approaches to energy monitoring from energy providers varying widely, making it difficult for consumers to make informed choices when trying to reduce their energy consumption.

The report, ‘Time for smarter thinking’, available to download at www.navetas.com/corporate/pressreleases/energyaudit, follows research from Navetas that showed 96% of British adults are concerned about energy prices and 88% want to better understand how they are using energy and would value information at an appliance level.

Against this backdrop, and with the government’s rollout of 53m smart meters looming, the Navetas report studied ten UK energy providers, including the “Big Six”. Through email communication, telephone calls and website reviews, it looked at whether energy providers are meeting consumer demand for energy efficiency initiatives and doing enough to convince consumers of the benefits of the smart meter rollout.

Energy efficiency initiatives

Energy saving is a key message for energy providers, but the products and services offered varied widely. At the time of the study, British Gas and Southern Electric were promoting energy efficiency prominently, while EDF Energy, E.ON and Scottish Power focused on fixed pricing deals, and npower on services such as boiler care.

Smaller companies Good Energy and Ecotricity looked to appeal to customers by focusing on renewable energy, while new entrant Co-operative Energy highlighted pricing promotions – putting them in direct competition with the bigger players in the market.

With 88% of consumers saying they would value energy monitoring at an appliance level, the study also looked at the energy monitors on offer. Only 50% of energy providers assessed provide an energy monitoring device and these varied considerably, with some requiring plugs, some with in-home displays, others online displays, some monitoring at appliance level and others only providing top-line energy data.

Smart meters

Overall, energy providers are providing some information on the government’s smart meter rollout, but offering little evidence of tangible benefits that will help consumers. British Gas was the only energy provider to put a figure against the savings that smart meters could give consumers, of 10%.

Calls to customer service teams painted a particularly worrying picture, with many agents not knowing when the rollout of smart meters will start or whether consumers would be charged. Only agents from British Gas, E.ON and Scottish Power were clear that the consumer would not have to pay for their smart meter and few could cite the key benefits of smart meters outside of accurate billing and automatic meter readings. One customer service agent from a Big Six utility even stated: “it’s all a bit sketchy at the moment”.

Chris Saunders, CEO at Navetas Energy Management, comments: “The UK energy industry is entering a challenging phase, with strict carbon reduction targets, implementation of the smart grid and an £11.7bn smart meter rollout. But for the consumer, saving money is the key concern and energy providers have a lot to do to rebuild their trust following recent high price rises.

“The smart meter rollout is an initiative that will impact every household in the UK and it offers the opportunity for energy providers to deliver customers the services, cost savings and added value they want. .The smart meter rollout can be a win-win for both energy providers and energy users, but smart meters need to be smarter.

“Energy providers need to transform these devices from simple displays for consumers, to intelligent energy measurement and management systems in the home that will engage consumers and help them save energy. It’s time for energy providers to find new coherent and purpose-driven ways of motivating and engaging consumers in their bids to become energy efficient.”

Navetas has developed unique energy disaggregation technology that can accurately measure energy consumption at an appliance-level, from a single point in the home, without the need for additional sensors. The technology is currently being trialed with some of the UK’s leading energy providers.

The full Navetas report, ‘An audit of UK energy providers’, can be downloaded now at www.navetas.com/corporate/pressreleases/energyaudit.

Energy price increases: 10 tips to save £200 a year now and £900 over time

Electricity prices are up by an inflation busting 16% in some cases. All the major utility companies are announcing rises. But, what can be done to help minimise these rises? The energy saving website ConserveEnergy.co.uk has researched 10 effective ways to easily cut the cost of household electric bills.

Divided up into: action to take now, action over the medium term and over the long term, if all advice is followed could result in an annual saving of £900. Just a change in habits to follow the immediate advice could result in a saving of over £200.

Some do require some up-front installation and purchasing costs.

Things that can be done immediately:

1. Turn off electrical appliances when not using them.

Leaving your appliances on stand-by costs the average home £33 a year.

2. Switch off the lights when you leave the room.

If the rating is 60 watts, and the bulb is on for one hour, it will consume 0.06 kWh. If electricity prices are 12p per kWh. The value of the energy savings would then be 12p for every hour turned off.

3. Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.

This could save around £6 a year on energy bills. If everyone in the UK did this every time they used the kettle, it could save enough electricity in a year to power the UK’s street lights for 2 months.

4. Switch energy supplier to a cheaper tariff, and switch to Direct Debit payment and an online account.

Claims of savings of £200 a year from utility switching websites, although some claim £450 saving.

Total savings of £249 if you do the above. You can save around £249 just by changing your habits today.

Things that can be done medium term:

5. Turn your thermostat down.

By turning it down by just one degree it saves around £55 a year.

6. Replace all your old lightbulbs with energy efficient ones.

Energy-efficient bulbs last up to 10 times longer than a normal bulb and can save £3-6 a year each in energy bills (for a 100W bulb) – saving up to £60 over the lifetime of the bulb in reduced energy bills and replacement costs.

7. Buy more energy efficient appliances.

Replacing an old Fridge freezer with a new A+ or A++ EU energy rated appliances can save around £38 per year.

Total savings of £153.

Things that can be done longer term:

8. Properly insulate your home.

Cavity wall insulation can save £110, internal wall insulation £365, external wall insulation £385. 270mm loft insulation can save £140 a year, floor insulation can save £50.

9. Upgrade your boiler to a A rated condensing boiler.

Upgrading from an old G rated to a new efficient A rated model can save £225 a year.

10. Install double glazing.

Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by around £140 a year.

Total savings of £475, and if you do all of the above you could save £249 + £153 + £475 = £877.

(EDITOR: All figures and calculations were taken from the EnergySavingTrust.org.uk website and their lists of assumptions based on average usage and an average home size)

The above savings and figures do not include the cost of installing or purchasing the new energy saving methods. But armed with these figures you can use them to calculate how much saving you would make if you purchased and installed everything.

ConserveEnergy.co.uk is a website dedicated to helping people save energy and money on their household utility and energy bills.

Cheaper Power to the People? UK Consumers Fight back over Energy Price Rises

Hot on the heels of the news Ofgem, the energy watchdog, is to investigate the “Big Six” energy companies over possible “cartel behaviour” in their pricing strategies, and the uproar that followed the announcement British Gas is to increase prices even further, is news of a new web service empowering consumers to show they can fight back against the pricing strategies of the energy corporations.

Giantclient.co.uk is a new “Social Utility” using social networking to enable consumers to join together creating a “Giant Client” that will use their collective strength to drive down energy prices.

Said Mark Lawfull co founder of giantclient.co.uk “It's clear to us that energy consumers have been paying not only for the huge profits and dividends earned and paid by the energy corporations, but also for the spin off industries, the comparison and switching companies.”

He went on to say: “Energy provision is and should be a service provided to the public, not a private profit making industry. We aim to give the consumer a platform to negotiate energy prices on a level that will make these companies take notice of their voice.”

The Giant Client social utility aims to gain 10,000 members to “Grow the Giant” as they put it, and will then use their business contacts to negotiate “the best energy prices available in the uk”.

“10,000 is just the start, just the proving ground” says Mark. “There is no reason why every household in the UK can't become a Giant Client member and effectively renationalise the energy industry.

“Anyone unsure about the concept should take a look at the financial statements on the websites of any of these giant corporations, the money made out of energy is incredible, wholesale prices may have gone up, but you can see that British Gas increased their dividend payment by 12 % last year.”

Giant Client officially releases their new website (www.giantclient.co.uk) on Monday July 11th.