Households in Birmingham are getting an energy saving health check thanks to a new ‘Green Doctor’ service.
The green doctors also help residents by installing energy-saving devices, such as draught-proofing, energy-saving lightbulbs and water-saving hippo bags for toilets, free of charge to help people save money.
Family Housing Association is working in partnership with Moseley Community Development Trust and Groundwork West Midlands to deliver the project. The scheme is funded by Be Birmingham’s Working Neighborhoods Fund (WNF) and the European Union Social Fund.
The partnership has a team of green doctors and a target to carry out a total of 800 green doctor visits before March 2011.
Family Housing Association’s green doctor Andy Thomas explained the help they can give people is far reaching.
He said: “As well as helping fit energy-saving lightbulbs and draught proofing around doors and windows, we are also helping them with recycling paper and wood, water conservation to save people money on water rates, and advising people how to use their controls on central heating efficiently.
“A lot of the tips may be small but ultimately have big savings for people’s purses and the environment. People have been surprised by some of the advice because it involves things that people don’t think of, like not leaving the TV on standby and only filling the kettle with as much water as is needed.”
According to figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, in 2009 up to 4.6 million households in England could be in fuel poverty, which is when more then 10 per cent of a household income goes on energy bills. This number looks to rise in line with increasing domestic energy prices.
Donna Carter, green doctor for Groundwork West Midlands, said: “With more and more people in fuel poverty all these steps are vital to helping people save money and reduce CO2 emissions.”
Kathleen McCann, from Edgbaston, recently benefited from new draught proofing and energy-saving lightbulbs after a visit from Family Housing Association’s green doctor.
She said: “My house was quite cold with draughts coming through the doors and windows so the new draught proofing will definitely help me save money on my electricity bills. It was costing a lot to heat the house before.
“I think it is a great scheme and something that a lot of people can benefit from.”
Graham Flint, green doctor for Moseley Community Development, added: “We are really pleased that the scheme is already benefiting people like Mrs McCann and hopes that more people who are eligible for a green doctor visit will request one.”
The service is available to people aged over 60, claiming benefit, with a disability or ill health in Handsworth, Summerfield, Ladywood, Soho, Nechells, North Moseley, Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath, Alum Rock, Washwood Heath and Saltley.
The green doctor project builds on other eco-work already pioneered by Family Housing Association and its partners. These joint schemes include the installation of solar panels on homes in Summerfield and South Lozells and the de-conversion of older properties into energy-efficient homes.
The project in Summerfield, which included installing solar panels and low-energy heating in 329 homes, creating eco-showhomes with 1,700 visitors touring the area, working with children from six local schools to create a ‘green’ website, radio station and energy advice DVDs, has recently won a prestigious national industry award in the Sustainable Housing Awards 2009.
A team of green doctors are now operating in parts of the city in a bid to help vulnerable people, who are over 60 years old and/ or eligible for the checks, to save money and avoid fuel poverty by giving them energy-saving advice.
The free service involves energy saving experts surveying properties and giving residents tips to keep warm, save money on gas and electricity bills, reduce energy usage and save the environment. |