Margaret Blackwood HA tackles fuel poverty

Sustainability and reducing fuel poverty are priorities for Margaret Blackwood Housing Association. Recent research undertaken for the Association by Changeworks identified that their tenants, three quarters of whom are physically disabled, are significantly more likely to be in fuel poverty than the average Scot. Fuel poverty is defined as being when a person spends more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel. The average person spends around three per cent.

“Disability and sustainability are inextricably linked as disabled people are more likely to be in fuel poverty,” said Sheena Stone, Marketing and Commercial Development Manager for Margaret Blackwood and its sustainability champion.

 “Disabled people are more likely to be out of the jobs market and, consequently, are at home for longer, using more heating and lighting. They are more likely to be less active, be more prone to illness or have restricted circulation and therefore need higher temperatures to keep warm.

 “With the external environment not being fully accessible to them, disabled people are likely to go out less. They also use electrically powered equipment to support their independence, ranging from electric wheelchairs and stair lifts to door and window openers, and track-and-hoist systems. The Association has developed a programme to help our tenants out of fuel poverty.”

Sheena added, “For example, every day last week, National Energy Saving Week, we encouraged every member of staff to commit to energy saving actions helping both themselves and tenants to save energy and money, at work and at home.

 “This promotion of National Energy Saving Week to everyone in the Association is a major exercise to teach them what can be done to reduce energy so that they can pass their knowledge onto tenants. Daily emails were sent out on topics ranging from insulation, light bulbs, and renewable energy sources to heating systems and switching appliances off rather than leaving them on standby.

“By the end of the week, our members of staff had personally committed to over fifty different actions including giving up the family car and joining the Edinburgh Car Club, to working to replace 88 light bulbs at home with energy efficient ones.

“This staff training is just part of a programme which includes a new Design Guide focused on the topic; building new, environmentally friendly low energy housing; providing energy advice to tenants; and supplying cheaper-to-run heating systems and upgraded insulation levels in existing properties.”

National Energy Saving Week ran from Monday, 22nd October through to Sunday, 28th October 2007.

For further information, contact Paul Leighton, Publicity & Communication Officer, telephone: 0131 317 0117, email PaulL@mbha.org.uk at Margaret Blackwood Housing Association.

2nd November 2007

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