NEWS
Quarterly newsletter of
everything green!
Issue 3
Winter
KEEP WARM AND WELL THIS WINTER
Heat your home sensibly
The days are getting shorter, the clocks have
gone back and there are more leaves on the
ground than in the trees. It looks like winter is
well and truly on its way.
Keeping warm over the winter is one of the most
important things you can do to stay healthy. As
the temperature drops, you’re more at risk from
coughs and colds, flu, respiratory problems
such as bronchitis and asthma, heart problems
and falls.
But keeping warm at home is not always easy.
As energy prices go up again, you might be
thinking about rationing your heating. And if
you live in a home that’s poorly insulated or
draughty or has an inefficient heating system,
then it can be even tougher.
So how to keep warm without spending a
fortune?
If you are worried about the costs of heating your
home, you can call the Home Heat Helpline on
freephone 0800 33 66 99.
Set your heating to come on just before you
get up and switch off just after you go to bed.
Keeping doors closed will keep heat in the
rooms you want for longer.
Make sure you use your heating system, but
also make sure you claim your Warm Homes
Discount to help with the costs. This is a rebate
of £130 on energy bills for people who are on
low incomes or are vulnerable to cold. You can
find out if you are eligible by calling your energy
supplier.
Keep active!
Staying active generates heat and helps you
keep warm. Try not to sit still in the cold for more
than an hour. If you’ve got things to do, spread
them out during the day so you’re moving more
often. If you are sitting down, have a throw or
blanket to hand. And put your feet up! (The air is
warmer higher off the ground.)
Eat well
Have at least one hot meal a day and have hot
drinks at regular intervals, especially before you
go to bed. Make sure you eat plenty of fruit and
vegetables so that you’re getting nutrients and
vitamins. Frozen veg and tinned fruit are great
for days when you can’t get to the shops.
There are lots of offers at the moment for free
insulation. Talk to your housing association about
whether your home could be better insulated.
Dress for the weather
Wear several layers of clothing as this helps to
trap warm air. Choose your footwear carefully
– in and out of the house. Non-slip soles and
warm linings are great.
www.nhh.org.uk
Information supplied courtesy of greenB
01462 704100
NEWS
Quarterly newsletter of
everything green!
Issue 3
Out and about
If you’re out and about: wrap up warm, even if
you’re only popping out. Try to avoid going out
first thing when it’s coldest and more likely to
be slippery under foot. Make the most of local
facilities which might be warm: cafes, libraries,
community centres. A great way to keep warm
and to stay social!
Winter
2. The Assessor then creates a Green Deal
Report, which makes recommendations about
things that you could do to improve your home.
3. You can then take this report to companies
called Green Deal Providers. They will look at
the list of recommendations and come up with a
Green Deal Plan for you. You can shop around
and get as many quotes as you like.
4. Once you have found a Green Deal Plan that
you are happy with, you sign up to a contract.
Under the contract, the Green Deal Provider
organises all the improvements to be made to
your home (eg, having the loft insulated). You
pay nothing up front!
A GOOD DEAL FROM GREEN DEAL
There’s been a lot of coverage in the papers and
on television of a new initiative called the Green
Deal. And you’re probably wondering what it’s all
about.
Green Deal is a Government-backed initiative
which helps people to improve their homes and
save energy. There are five steps to a Green
Deal:
1. First, a qualified Energy Assessor comes to
your home to find out how you use energy, what
your heating system is like and whether you
have enough insulation.
Avoiding rogue traders
If someone comes to your door offering
Green Deal or ECO services, ask for their
ID. If they are an approved contractor, their
ID will include the Green Deal Approved
logo. If you’re not sure about their
credentials, close the door and report
your concerns to your housing
association or local council
trading standards.
5. Once the work is done, you start to save
energy and to save money on your bills. From
the money that you save, you make payments
towards the costs of the improvements you had
installed.
Talk to your housing association before you get
any works done to your house of flat. They may
be able to get you a better deal or fit you in to a
maintenance programme, and you’ll need their
permission for any big changes.
Alongside the Green Deal, there’s also a
new scheme called the Energy Company
Obligation or ECO. ECO is a target for the big
energy companies to provide energy efficiency
improvements to households on low incomes or
to people whose homes are more expensive to
insulate (particularly older properties).
Many housing associations are already in
discussion with the energy companies about
how they can secure funding from ECO to make
improvements to tenants’ properties. Talk to your
association about what they are planning and
how you might be able to get involved.
You can find out more about how
Green Deal works by watching a
short film online at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Ms93fcXhSjg or by phoning
the Government-backed
Energy Saving Advice Service on
0300 123 1234 (national rate).
www.nhh.org.uk
Information supplied courtesy of greenB
01462 704100