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Media

Most Britons waste energy despite credit crunch 9 December 2008

Actor Richard Wilson and Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson help launch this winter’s Home Heat Helpline campaign to provide free home insulation for elderly, disabled and single parents this winter.

The Home Heat Helpline (the country’s only dedicated fuel poverty helpline) campaign comes hard on the heels of new research released today that shows more than half of Britons confess to not being as energy efficient as they should be, with nearly a third believing it’s too expensive to be green.

Merlin star Richard Wilson OBE, who shot to fame playing the irascible Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave, said:

“I’m worried people are not getting the support they are entitled to on energy bills – whether it’s pensioners, single parents or people with disabilities there are special rates, support through free insulation and wider help out there all for the taking. But people need to know what’s available – that’s why I am asking everyone who thinks they may qualify for support to call the free Home Heat Helpline today!”

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, winner of 16 Paralympic medals, added:

“As the days get colder and shorter, it’s important people know where to get the advice they need to keep warm this winter. The Home Heat Helpline is a free service for people wanting to be more efficient, and if you have an elderly relative or care for someone with a disability, you can even make the call on their behalf.”

The new research shows that:

• Three quarters say the credit crunch has made them more concerned about saving energy;
• However, almost half of those in even the most energy-conscious UK city say they are wasting energy;
• More than 50% have furniture blocking their radiators; whilst one in five admit to leaving appliances on standby.
• Only one-third realises they might qualify for grants and other assistance from their energy supplier

In an energy-efficiency league of ten British cities, Londoners were found to be the worst culprits with only 38% considering themselves up to scratch. Although Cardiff topped the table, still only 54% per cent believed they were as efficient as they could be.

Garry Felgate, Chief Executive of the Energy Retail Association, which funds the helpline, said:

“Too many mistakenly believe it’s too expensive to be green or say they don’t know what to do. Our experience shows that vulnerable customers, including older people, need more support in taking those steps, which is why we’re encouraging people to call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 today for free advice and assistance to help them through the winter.

Along with Richard Wilson and Dame Tanni, the helpline has received support from Help the Aged, Age Concern, Citizen’s Advice, National Energy Action, Energy Saving Trust, Counsel and Care and One Parent Families/ Gingerbread.

As well as providing direct help about grants for free home insulation and flexible payment options to those who need it most, the Home Heat Helpline acts as a free source of access to the full range of support services and has delivered help to over 80,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales since it launched three years ago.

As part of its 2008/9 winter campaign – coinciding with the onset of the winter period – the stepped-up service will allow worried householders or their relatives and friends to make online enquiries and receive advice and support over the internet at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

Mr David Thompson, a pensioner from Stockport, who called the Helpline earlier this year and has already reduced his fuel bills said:

“I called the Helpline because I had trouble paying the bill and I found out a lot about how to keep them down. I hadn’t realised that like almost everyone I could get money towards cavity wall insulation and that persuaded me to put it in. I also got a voucher towards changing the boiler for one that doesn’t cost so much to run, and I’m looking to do that before it gets much colder. I’m already warmer, and I am sure that it is saving money.”

Mrs Carol Milton, who has also benefited from the helpline, said:

“As a single parent I know that all the money I can cut off my gas and electricity bills I can spend on school books or other things that we need. The advice I got was really useful, and over a period of time I know that all that is going to add up and that’s going to really help. If I hadn’t called the Helpline and it wasn’t made easy, then I wouldn’t have been able to save money. And I’ll go on saving year after year”.

ENDS

For more information, case study quotes or photography, or to request an interview, please contact: Peter Jenkins, Head of Communications and Media Relations, 020 7104 4161 or Claire Gibson, Senior Press Officer, 020 7104 4162

Notes to editors

The Home Heat Helpline 2008 campaign will be launched by Richard Wilson OBE and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson† on the Southbank outside Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre (108 Stamford St, SE1 9NH) on 9th December at 8:30am.

Photos of the launch with Richard Wilson and Dame Tanni will be available. More case study quotes are also available.

The research was carried out on 2,924 people across the UK by Opinion Matters in November 2008.

League of energy efficient cities

Ranking	City	% saying they’re as energy efficient as they could be
1	Cardiff	54%
=2	Swansea	50%
=2	Wrexham	50%
=2	Edinburgh	50%
5	Dundee	49%
6	Manchester	47%
7	Birmingham	42%
=8	Southampton	41%
=8	Bristol	41%
10	London	38%

The research showed that 32% did not know that there are grants available to fit free or reduced cost home insulation and other energy efficiency measures?

Home Heat Helpline

The Home Heat Helpline is a free number – 0800 33 66 99 – providing vulnerable customers with a direct link to specialist teams at their energy supplier, who can deliver one or more of the following services:

• The Priority Service Register which provides extra services for people who are elderly or disabled including bills in large text or Braille, security passwords and an annual gas safety check
• Grants for free home insulation
• Flexible payment options for customers in fuel debt
• Benefits entitlement checks
• A disconnection safety net which means that vulnerable customers will not be cut off even if they are unable to pay their bill

The Home Heat Helpline is managed by the Energy Retail Association and paid for by contributions from Britain’s major energy suppliers – see below.

Energy Retail Association

The Energy Retail Association (ERA), formed in 2003, represents the major electricity and gas suppliers in the domestic market in Great Britain. All the main energy suppliers operating in the residential market in Great Britain are members of the association – British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power, and Scottish and Southern Energy.

† Richard is a multiple BAFTA winning actor most known for playing Victor Meldrew for six series on the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave. He has also starred in and directed a number of theatre productions. In 1994 Richard was awarded the OBE for services to drama as a director and actor. Richard is currently in Merlin on Saturday evenings on BBC 1. He will also be seen in the New Year on a new series for BBC 4 called Britain’s Best Drives and is filming on various other projects to be aired next year.

Born with spina bifida, Dame Tanni is a wheelchair user, and is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK. Over her career to date, she has won a total of 16 Paralympics medals, including 11 golds, held over 30 world records, and won the London Marathon six times between 1992 and 2002. She has been named the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year three times; in 1992, 2000 and 2004. She is currently a non-executive director for UK Athletics, sits on the board of the London Marathon, and has recently been appointed to the Board of Transport for London.