Lewisham’s Energy Action Zone (EAZ) started in April 2007, with the twin objectives of reducing fuel poverty and reducing CO2 emissions. The first year of the EAZ covered all homes in Downham, Brockley and Evelyn.
The project aims to reach audiences who would otherwise be unlikely to access the range of advice and support that exists on energy efficiency, and has a focus on those vulnerable to fuel poverty, including people house-bound through poor health and people on benefits. A team of specially trained officers speak to residents on their doorstep and can be contacted by telephone.
The EAZ team also works with local community groups, and other local public sector agencies like the Safer Neighbourhoods Team to engage with more difficult to reach groups, including people who’s first language is not English.
The EAZ achieves energy savings through:
- General energy advice, for example on the use of heating systems
- Referrals to grant programmes for improvements to insulation and heating systems
- Provision of free energy efficient light bulbs
In its first year of operations the EAZ team
- Contacted 20,185 residents in the three wards through an introductory letter and a follow-up door-step visit
- Completed 3,977 household surveys
- Referred 229 households to funding programmes
Where a survey is completed the householder is given energy saving advice, such as use of thermostats and switching off appliances left on stand-by. They are also given two free low energy lightbulbs. In the interviews the EAZ team try and identify issues that could point to particular problems, such as unusually high energy bills or temperature problems.
The survey enables the Council to identify people eligible for financial support for energy efficiency improvements to their home. In 2007/08 referrals resulted in the delivery of 271 energy saving measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing, repairs to heating systems and the installation of a new heating system. According to Defra’s calculations these measures will deliver savings of 7,000 tonnes of CO2 and lifetime (30 year) financial savings for recipients estimated at over £1 million.
The EAZ also delivers a range of wider benefits including
- Benefit take up among vulnerable residents
- Helping residents in social housing get maintenance jobs resolved
- Advice on recycling and other Council services
- Liaising with Wardens and the local Safer Neighbourhood Team
- Targeting potentially excluded groups, for example with community groups for ethnic minorities
The project has moved on to three new wards in 2008, New Cross, Whitefoot and Telegraph Hill, and we will aim to cover all parts of the borough over the next 4 years.