#cold homes

Cold Homes Loophole Could Lead to £1bn energy bill for Vulnerable Tenants @1010 #insulation #climateaction #housing

Cold homes loophole could see vulnerable tenants hit with £1bn energy bill.

Housing standards exemptions that opened on Friday could allow landlords to leave some of the most vulnerable private renters with a £1bn energy bill over the next five years.

Regulations were initially passed under the coalition government, but the subsequent closure of energy efficiency funding schemes means landlords…

For the 10-year period, 1998-2007, Australia had excess winter deaths of 6,779 per yr out of a total of 131,613 deaths per yr (avg.) This works out to 5.2% of all deaths per yr (on avg). Cold homes have been linked to poor health by many studies; the extreme example of this is the phenomenon of excess winter deaths. Some studies link particular health outcomes with temperature; one important study shows a minimal in cardiovascular mortality at a daily mean temperature of about 20 degrees C. 

 Research also indicates that heart attacks and strokes in particular are more prevalent during winter as opposed to during the summer. These health outcomes are strongly associated with poverty (Asplund 2003) but Wilkinson et al (2001) found that cold related mortality was greatest in the coldest homes. Healy found higher ratios of winter deaths to summer deaths in warmer climates than those of the coldest EU-14 countries (the highest was Portugal with 28% more deaths in winter months than summer, UK; 18%, Mean; 16%). Other health outcomes linked with cold homes includes the findings of Strusberg indicating that rheumatic pain is linked to climatic conditions, specifically humidity and temperature. (Strusberg and others 2002). Even some relatively warm homes can “feel cold” to some occupants. This reflects the fact that many factors affect an occupant’s thermal sensation or “thermal comfort”. Fanger (1970) states; “thermal comfort is that condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment”. However, he also found that thermal comfort is dependent on six main environmental variables, air temperature, relative humidity, radiant temperature, air speed, clothing level and metabolic rate (activity level). If the home is both cold and has high moisture levels a consequence can be mould and damp, the health effects of mould and damp are significant. 

 Respiratory symptoms were found to be linked in different ways to different housing factors for children and for seniors. Draughty homes are were linked to fewer symptoms while poor heating systems were related with increased prevalence of respiratory problems for children. For seniors, having problems with cold temperatures in winter and being dissatisfied with the homes insulation were both associated with increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Cardio-vascular problems were strongly linked to age, weight and gender, but after compensating for these, only Mould_Score was found to be a factor from all the housing factors considered (see mould chapter elsewhere in this book for more details). Arthritic problems were very strongly linked to age; however within the senior age grouping, “problems with cold temperatures in winter” were also significantly associated with arthritic problems. It is important to note that arthrosis, degeneration essentially due to age, was classified in the same category as arthritis, so this may have led to a confusing picture resulting from the analysis.

Ref:- http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/16832/1/16832.pdf http://joannenova.com.au/2011/11/7000-excess-winter-deaths-in-australia-and-1500-in-new-zealand-each-year/ https://books.google.com.au/books?id=BD59AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA143&lpg=PA143&dq=thermal+comfort++arthritis+humidity&source=bl&ots=FlQZsG_oJl&sig=1bL3W8jLy9DxPX4X_Kd35zMh8SI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2pe3LkJ_NAhWJKZQKHV1sBwsQ6AEITjAH#v=onepage&q=thermal%20comfort%20%20arthritis%20humidity&f=false

Benedict Cumberbatch’s Armani Cardigan for the benefit of NO COLD HOMES

This Emporio Armani cardigan looks like new, but has been worn by Benedict.

http://scitechnews.co.uk/renewable-energy/the-heat-is-on-to-ensure-warmer-healthy-homes-for-everyone/

The heat is on to ensure warmer, healthy homes for everyone

Central Heating Fund enables up to 8,000 fuel poor homes to stay warmer for less.

Local Authorities on the front line of tackling cold homes can now apply for their share of a £25 million Central Heating Fund, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey has announced.

The money is expected to help up to 8,000 fuel poor homes living off the gas grid stay warmer for less through the installation of complete first-time central heating systems.

New details have also been unveiled of the £1 million warmth-on-prescription fund that will boost nine local authorities in their efforts helping people in fuel poor households whose health is affected by cold homes. Schemes like the Dudley Winter Warmth Support Service will improve around 180 fuel poor households by installing a range of energy efficiency measures and the Warm and Healthy Homes Programme in Durham will provide essential training to over 100 health and social care professionals to ensure fuel poor households are identified and supported.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said:

“The heat is on for warmer, healthy homes. Over one million homes are now warmer and cheaper to heat thanks to the Government’s ECO and Green Deal policies. Today’s £25 million competition will go further to help thousands more”.

“Fuel poverty has fallen every year since 2010, however there are still too many people affected by it. That is why we have introduced an ambitious Fuel Poverty Strategy and are mobilising front-line services to innovate how we identify and target those living in cold homes”.

Rachel Fisher, head of policy at the National Housing Federation, said:

“A much needed long term plan to end the housing crisis within a generation shouldn’t just address the chronic shortage of new homes, but also bringing empty homes back into use and improving the quality of existing homes.

“DECC’s new £25m Central Heating Fund provides a unique opportunity to improve the quality of life of thousands of tenants by lifting them out of fuel poverty with the installation of new heating technologies, including renewable heat. We would encourage housing associations to take an in-depth look at this funding to see how they can use it to make the most lasting impact.”

Up to £2 million in additional funding, available in 2015/16, has kick-started a collaborative programme, working with local authorities and partners on future pilots that will continue to build on the progress made so far. These include community energy schemes, giving face-to-face advice and building on the success of Big Energy Saving Network.

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To heat, or to eat, that is the question