Archive for October, 2009
October 29th, 2009 | 
Author: SURVEY REVEALS UK PUBLIC TURNING TO ENERGY SAVING AS RECESSION BITES
A poll survey commissioned by UK’s leading supplier of energy saving radiator panels HEATKEEPER reveals a quarter of the 3,000 adults surveyed had changed energy suppliers in the last 12 months looking for a better deal 65% have started turning off the lights when leaving a room, 40% have or will turn down their heating thermostat to save energy and reduce bills, however only 5% had fitted radiator panels, despite their ability to reduce up to 20% of heating bills only 12% had made no energy saving changes at all.
When our parents berated us for not turning the lights off when we’d left a room we moaned, but an astonishing 65% have started making the effort to do exactly that, with this being the biggest energy saving change made within the last 12 months. The 41-55 age group are far more likely to be in the habit of turning the lights off with under 21’s seeing it as less of a priority. Women were also more likely to switch off then men, with 70% of women switching off and only 55% of men making the effort.
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The Energy Saving Trust
This week the “Energy Saving Trust” launched “Energy Saving Week”. The theme of this years campaign is “WASTE”. The group will be encouraging businesses and households to think about where they waste energy.
OFGEM WARNS ENERGY COSTS ARE SET TO SOAR
Finding the cheapest gas and electricity supply has become more urgent than ever as regulator OFGEM has predicted that fuel bills could soar by as much as 60 oer cent over the next seven years.
It is also imperative that businesses should be finding means of reducing use. Many are so fixated on what they pay for energy that many overlook the fact that reducing use saves them money.
Carbon Cuts Will Hit Small Firms Unfairly
Hundreds of small companies could be unfairly hit by the Government’s carbon emissions rules. Companies with high energy usage will HAVE to join the carbon emission trading scheme but private equity chiefs warn that hundreds of small firms owned by funds could find themselves being dragged into the scheme next April.
Richard Lomas “We are supportive of any scheme to reduce energy use but we have real concerns about the way it is being implemented”.
www.theenergysavingco.co.uk
To arrrange an “Energy Audit” for your business please contact us at www.theenergysavingco.co.uk or e-mail us via contact@theenergysavingco.co.uk.
Energy Saving Consultant
John Thomas
17 James Court
St,Mellons
Cardiff
CF3 0FA
Home: 02920 794512
Mob : 0798 568 2834
Blog : renewablediyenergy.com
e-mail: jtwales@renewablediyenergy.com
ASA – ESC 10
WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS ‘UNSUSTAINABLE’
Oct 21, 2009 2:45:14 AM
Winter fuel payments for pensioners are an “unsustainable” response to fuel poverty and should be reconsidered, a report said today. The Government’s GBP2.7 billion-a-year budget for winter fuel payments might be better spent on lagging, insulating, reglazing and modernising the homes of pensioners who cannot afford to heat them properly, suggested local government spending watchdog the Audit Commission.
The Commission pointed out that only 12% of people receiving the payments – worth up to GBP400 a year – are classed as being in fuel poverty. And it said that the payments do nothing to encourage energy efficiency and reduce the CO2 emissions blamed for global warming.
Audit Commission chairman Michael O’Higgins said: “A one-off improvement in energy efficiency would cut household bills, giving householders lasting independence. Good for the planet and for their pockets. “Surely this would be much better than pensioners needing continual government support to keep draughty houses warm every winter.”
In a report entitled Lofty Ambitions, published today, the Audit Commission said that improvements in domestic energy efficiency can play a big part in meeting the government’s legally-binding target of 80% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Homes account for a third of Britain’s carbon emissions, which could be cut more quickly and cheaply than those from industry or transport, said the report.
Cutting the power consumed by homes by one-third would cost around GBP50 billion, but the money would be repaid through cheaper fuel bills within eight years. The measures would improve the health and comfort of the 4 million people who cannot currently afford to heat their homes properly – half of whom are pensioners.
“Expenditure on winter fuel payments, as well as being poorly targeted, does not provide a sustainable solution to the problem it seeks to address, said the report.
“Winter fuel payments increase incomes but do not reduce energy consumption or bills. It would be more sustainable to improve energy efficiency in fuel-poor households, reducing energy bills and CO2 emissions.”
Today’s report said that local councils are well-placed to support the fight against climate change by obliging or subsidising social landlords and private sector homeowners to reduce domestic CO2 emissions. It urged the Government to carry out a check on whether its voluntary approach to emissions cuts at the local level was working.
Mr O’Higgins added: “The global issue of climate change must now become a domestic one. “There is a growing realisation that, unchecked, climate change will destroy the natural and built environments. Reducing emissions now will be far less costly than adapting our world to the consequences in the future.”
But Dot Gibson, general secretary of the National Pensioners’ Convention, said: “Every year over 20,000 pensioners die from cold-related illnesses and one in three older people are currently living in fuel poverty; paying more than 10% of their income on energy bills. “Every time there is a 1% increase in energy bills, a further 40,000 older people fall into hardship.
“Suggestions that this scandal can be tackled by means-testing the winter fuel allowance is frankly stupid. The best way of getting money to those who need it most is to pay it universally and use the tax system to claw it back from those who are well off.”
MONEY Energy Oct 21, 2009 2:47:15 AM
The number of people falling behind with fuel bills soared by nearly 50% during the past six months, a charity warned today.
Citizens Advice said it had seen a 46% increase in the number of people contacting it during the six months to the end of September who had fuel debts, compared with the same period of the previous year.
It said the rise continued a trend seen in recent years, with the number of people who were in debt to their fuel supplier jumping by 82% since 2005/2006. The majority of people who owed money on their energy bills in 2008/2009 were of working age, with only 5% of people aged over 65.
Eight out of 10 people who were behind with their energy bills had incomes which were half the national average, with 32% living off less than GBP400 a month, while a quarter of people with fuel debt had a disability.
David Harker, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “We are already seeing large increases in the number of people in fuel debt and it is not yet winter. “With fuel prices remaining at historically high levels it is essential that people get all the help that is available.
Recent Government increases in Warm Front Grants and Cold Weather Payments will go some way towards helping but information on what help is available, targeted to those who are most vulnerable, must be a prime focus for the Government and energy companies.
The Benefit of Going Green
It has come to a point that going green is now a sort of popular trend. Being green has become the cool and fashionable thing to do. From buttons to t-shirts, the green trend has integrated itself into everything from clothing and accessories to businesses who want to keep up with the times.
Even the smallest steps taken can have a huge impact. Many steps can actually save money and increase revenue for businesses, making it a key tool for small businesses. Also, this increases the number of businesses finding ways to go green, offering more green solutions to consumers.
Often, going green can help save money as well. Green printers can be found for cheaper than non green competitors, not only saving your business valuable money but also attracting the sort of clients that will inevitably take an interest in the fact that you are trendy and green.
Energy Saving Consultant
Sybil Fowler
SLR Marketing Ltd
Heol Y Deri
Rhiwbina
Cardiff
www.slrmarketing.com
Tel: 07711 796574
Email:sybil@slrmarketing.com
ASA – ESC 05