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Winter weather will kill thousands of UK citizens

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

As the UK prepares for winter, experts are warning that extreme cold spells will push up the already worrying numbers of Britons dying from the cold weather.

Uncomfortable choices

With the nation in the grip of economic downturn the last thing the country needs is a bad winter to rival the last two. Homeowners are already struggling to pay for items such as household insurance, luxury food items and non essential motoring. If heating requirements shoot up because of a cold snap, experts are warning the choice between buying food or fuel may well cost some people their lives.

Winter weather brings on illness

Figures obtained from the Office of National Statistics suggest that already 27,000 more people die in winter than at any other time in the UK, the majority of which die due to the cold temperatures. It is not a case of people dying from hypothermia it is a case of people typically with heart and lung problems having their illnesses brought on by the cold weather. Worryingly, research is now suggesting that at least 10% of the extra winter deaths happen in homes where the inhabitants are in fuel poverty (a home that spends 10% or more of its income on heating). It seems many people really do have to make a choice between eating or heating.

UK figures worse than Scandinavia

The figures are far worse than those of Sweden, Norway and Finland, countries that all suffer from more severe winters than the UK. Experts are warning the Government that if the austere financial conditions are combined with freezing weather conditions many more households will have to make agonising choices about the quality of their lives. Home contents insurance, hot water and three square meals a day will be luxuries indeed for thousands of homes.

Help is at hand but some will miss out

Charities are concerned about the problem as well, with many demanding that the Government do more. However, the Government will point out they have already introduced the Warm Homes Discount which should knock about £4 a week off winter heating bills and of course millions receive the winter fuel payments. Energy companies are already giving discounted or free insulation to many impoverished households and the “green deal” initiative should offer even better levels of insulation for many in the coming years. Unfortunately there are always people who somehow miss out on the safety net provided by Governments and charities and for those the coming months will prove to be a challenging time.

Tags: Contents Insurance, energy, Fuel Poverty, heating, Home Insurance, household insurance, winter
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Energy companies misleading customers on cheapest deals

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

At a time when clarity in costing and pricing is becoming all important to the UK’s beleaguered homeowners, the tactics of Britain’s largest energy companies are being called into question.

Consumer experts catch companies out

There is little doubt that the cost of energy, fuel, household insurance and food is responsible for a big slice of the inflation cake that is currently rising on the back burner of the UK economy. While financiers and politicians warn of a double dip recession households throughout the country are taking the advice of experts and trying to find the best deals available to them, unfortunately according to consumer champion Which, when it comes to asking energy companies the best deal you cannot trust their answer.

Many prefer to use the phone

Of course many millions of people use computers and the internet to find out how they can cut their bills, the use of home insurance comparison sites and energy comparison sites such as Uswitch are now commonplace. However, not everyone is comfortable using such sites, and many prefer using the phone to find the best deal. This is exactly the method employed by Which investigators and the results were disturbing to say the least.

Poor response from providers

Researchers from Which called each of the six major energy companies over the space of 7 days. They asked for the cheapest deal according to their circumstances and noted the results. Southern Electric only managed to correctly guide the callers to the cheapest in 25% of the calls and fared worst of all the providers; however, they were not alone in giving poor service. EDF only came up with the cheapest deal for the consumer in 5 of the calls and Scottish Power failed to tell 75% of the researchers that they charged a £51 exit fee for those changing suppliers.

Why so many tariffs?

The secret research led a spokesman for Southern Electric to say there was a case for their call centre staff to be given more training but said there was little difference in the tariffs suggested to the one that was actually cheapest. Amazingly, Which believe that the leading 6 energy suppliers have over a thousand different tariffs available and the real question is; are the tariffs in place to give more choice to the customer or to confuse them?

Tags: energy, Energy companies, Fuel, home insurance comparison sites, household insurance
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Older houses need help to become energy efficient

Monday, September 13th, 2010

An eco-house which is 200 years old has managed to cut its carbon emissions by 60%, and is now is opening its doors in a bid to encourage many more homes to become energy efficient.

The house in Llanidloes, Powys, is owned by Mr Andy Warren and is part of a United Kingdom network of properties which have all been refurbished. A visit has been arranged by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) who are asking the Welsh Government to cut house emissions by 40% within the next decade. Many older houses, like Mr Warren’s house were built with little thought for insulation. His property which was built in the early 19^th Century, when even household insurance was not needed, was transformed in the late 80s and had solar thermal panels added in the last few years. The house is part of a scheme called ‘Old Home Super Homes’ which is a jointly run project run by the SEA (Sustainable Energy Academy) charity and the NEA (National Energy Foundation). Mr Warren’s home is one of only two properties in Wales which met the criteria set.

Head of WWF Wales, Anne Meikle, said “The refurbishment of existing homes to tackle climate change is a key area for the next Welsh Assembly Government. WWF Wales is keen to demonstrate to politicians that through supporting energy efficiency measures clear gains can be made in terms of meeting their carbon reduction targets and through engaging with the public on this positive agenda. Its important homes are energy efficient for the good of the global environment, and without sounding dramatic it’s a matter of survival.”

Mr Warren has previously worked as an ecological builder and is unable to say how much all the work had cost had cost because he had done a lot of the work himself. He has managed a 60% cut in domestic emissions thanks to external insulation, secondary double glazing, installing solar thermal panels and using low energy lights.

Tags: energy, Home Insurance, household insurance
Posted in Electricity, Home Insurance | No Comments »