2007 Big Tick

Big Tick winner in 2007

Big tick winner

EDF Energy - London Warm Zone

BUPA Healthy Communities Award 2007 supported by the Department for Health

EDF Energy’s London Warm Zone assists vulnerable households suffering from the effects of fuel poverty.  In 2006 18,500 doorstep assessments were carried out resulting in more energy efficiency measures for vulnerable households.  At the same time EDF Energy made improvements to its customer service, reduced debt levels and helped improve the company’s profile.

Processes

EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and is a major supplier of gas and electricity, with over 5 million electricity and gas customer accounts throughout the UK.

The company leads on a workgroup for the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group and as such advocates the integration of energy efficient programmes, advice and support.  EDF Energy created the London Warm Zone as a way of testing some of the policy developments that EDF Energy was advocating.

The company set two over-arching objectives for the programme:
1) A 30% reduction in fuel poverty over a 3-4 year period, additional to what might be expected under a business as usual scenario.
2) An average SAP improvement for all housing where grants have been secured and implemented. (SAP is a measure of the fuel efficiency of a household)

Working with a range of partners and relevant local authorities to identify vulnerable households, EDF Energy was able to provide a door to door assessment service through London Warm Zone.  This included providing energy advice, implementing energy efficiency measures and checking eligibility for grants and benefits.

Impact

  • 18,500 assessments carried out in East London in 2006
  • 290 people now receiving an additional £1075 each in previously unclaimed benefits
  • 1000 homes identified in east London to receive energy efficiency measure during 2006 with a total investment in excess of £2 million.
  • SAP rating improved on average by 13 points per household
  • 216,000 Giga Joules of energy were saved by all homes receiving measures since the beginning of the scheme
  • 27 full-time jobs for the long-term unemployed created

See also

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