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Warm & Well – Energy Efficiency Advice and Installation Scheme
Published on 20 November 2018
United Kingdom
Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Warm & Well is delivered by Severn Wye on behalf of a consortium of seven local authorities covering the counties of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. The other local authority members are Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucester City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.
Warm & Well was launched in October 2001 to install energy efficiency improvements in the homes of domestic householders. In 2012 the Warm and Well scheme opened the Warm and Well advice line, allowing clients in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire to access free energy efficiency advice and information on grants and funding available both nationally and locally. This advice line had been running in parallel to Warm & Well previously but then became integrated in order to ensure provision of a holistic programme.
The Warm & Well scheme aims to improve energy efficiency in the home and reduce the risk of fuel poverty and associated health problems by:
• Raising public awareness
• Providing specific and appropriate advice to all householders
• Making referrals into grant and discount schemes
• Addressing central links between energy efficiency, affordable warmth, cold living conditions and health risks, such as cardiovascular illness and condensation damp related respiratory illness
Warm & Well was launched in October 2001 to install energy efficiency improvements in the homes of domestic householders. In 2012 the Warm and Well scheme opened the Warm and Well advice line, allowing clients in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire to access free energy efficiency advice and information on grants and funding available both nationally and locally. This advice line had been running in parallel to Warm & Well previously but then became integrated in order to ensure provision of a holistic programme.
The Warm & Well scheme aims to improve energy efficiency in the home and reduce the risk of fuel poverty and associated health problems by:
• Raising public awareness
• Providing specific and appropriate advice to all householders
• Making referrals into grant and discount schemes
• Addressing central links between energy efficiency, affordable warmth, cold living conditions and health risks, such as cardiovascular illness and condensation damp related respiratory illness
Resources needed
Grants for measures such solid wall installation, first time central heating systems and cavity and loft insulation come from different sources, including government departments, the NHS and energy suppliers. The cost of running the program is approximately £200,000 p/a.
Evidence of success
Since 2001 the scheme has given energy efficiency advice to more than 80,000 residents across the participating regions, installed over 65,000 measures in over 41,000 properties. 678,327 tonnes of CO₂ has been saved over the lifetime of measures that were installed through Warm and Well since 2001. 17,452 tonnes of CO₂ saved each year from measures installed through Warm and Well since 2001. More than £30 Million has been invested in home improvements.
Potential for learning or transfer
There needs to be a commitment toward longer term improvement of housing stock within a region from the Public Sector that is closely linked to the understanding of all associated problems for people living in poor quality or unaffordable homes. In line with this is a need for capital funding to be available in order that it can be accessed by those most in need without requiring a significant contribution from them towards the planned improvements. As the benefit of installed measures are often not realised until after they have been installed, it will be difficult for people to justify making significant contributions towards the cost of measures if they are required to do so.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Severn Wye Energy Agency
United Kingdom
Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Contact
Partnerships and Communities Coordinator