NEA’s TECHNICAL TEAM: CHANGING LIVES THROUGH INNOVATION

INTRODUCTION NEA is the national fuel poverty charity, working to ensure that everyone

in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can afford to stay warm and

healthy in their homes.

Our technical team provides consultancy services to a wide variety of

organisations, including housing associations, manufacturers, network

operators and government on the best use of technical solutions to

alleviate fuel poverty. Placing low-income and vulnerable householders

at the heart of what we do, we work with academic and industrial

partners to develop and trial products with the ultimate aim of

providing solutions to tackling fuel poverty in homes which are difficult

or expensive to heat. The team evaluate a range of interventions

including technologies used for heating, insulating and controlling

energy in the home.

Findings from all of our work are communicated to those with

commercial and political influence and used by others in campaigning to

end fuel poverty.

THE TEAM NEA’s technical team has

gained extensive academic

and practical experience

within the energy industry.

Each of the team members

hold a degree, Masters

qualification or PhD in

energy or environmentally

related disciplines to

complement their years

working within the sector.

The team’s individual

interests include renewable

technology solutions for

communities, insulation

retrofits and home energy

efficiency improvements.

SKILLS MATRIX

Project development

& management

Vast experience of engaging and

working with vulnerable households

Building Physics, including air movement, thermal performance and comfort, control of moisture and energy consumption

Risk management

Data analysis and presentation

SKILLS MATRIX

Procuring of resources

Stakeholder engagement

Monitoring and evaluating technical solutions

for housing associations and local authorities

Report writing and making recomendations

Awareness of the environmental, social

and economic problems of deprived areas

Communicating results

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES Our staff have years of experience working with housing associations and local authorities to improve energy efficiency and reduce the risk of fuel poverty across the UK.

We can help you determine approaches to improve the energy efficiency of your existing

housing stock and help reduce the risk of fuel poverty among your residents.

We can offer:

• Energy assessments of your housing stock – using resident questionnaires, SAP

assessments, energy or thermal logging.

• A plan that identifies where you can improve your housing stock.

• Bespoke detailed energy advice for your residents.

We can undertake an independent evaluation of technologies you may be using or

thinking about using to improve your housing stock, enabling you to make the right

choices about energy efficiency improvements in the future.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR MANUFACTURERS NEA’s Technical team is experienced in evaluating new

technologies and systems determining their place in

reducing fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency.

NEA works hard to ensure that the benefits of renewable

technologies, the advances in insulation and the

introduction of new products are used to best effect in

improving the living conditions of people in fuel poverty.

The vast amount of products claiming to save energy and

money makes selecting the right product increasingly

confusing for consumers. As an independent fuel poverty

charity, we are uniquely placed to evaluate your claims and

highlight findings through our networks.

We would look to test your product within a ‘real world

situation’ to see how it performs. In partnership with you we

would scope a suitable project and carry out monitoring

and analysis, reporting on your product’s performance.

WATFORD BOUNDARY WAY EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION NEA was commissioned by Watford Borough Council to undertake an evaluation

of an innovative project to install external wall insulation (EWI) across 118 hard-to-treat

homes in Watford. The partners wanted to reinvigorate the homes and ensure they remained

fit for purpose. The project brought together a housing association, two local authorities and

private rented homes.

What did NEA do?

To determine the effectiveness of the external wall insulation, NEA looked at various different factors such as: CO₂ emissions, fuel bills, temperature levels and residents’ health and wellbeing.

Questionnaires were carried out to create profiles of the residents and understand the energy efficiency of the properties. Follow-up questionnaires were issued after the EWI was installed to understand the impact the intervention had on residents.

Thermal loggers were installed and regular meter readings were taken in 60 properties to understand the energy performance of the properties. Analysis was carried out to determine the improved thermal performance and reduced heating costs.

CASE

STUDY

What did the client gain?

Watford Borough Council received an independent evaluation that used quantitative and qualitative data, enabling the council to see the real impact the EWI had on their residents and housing stock. This data helped shape the second phase of the project.

Success and testimonial

Building Futures Award Outstanding Commitment to Adapt to a Changing Climate

The Green Apple Awards Green Practices Gold award

“The client should also be commended for commissioning independent monitoring

[by NEA] to determine which aspects of the refurbishment worked well.”

Dr. David Strong, Building Futures Awards Head Judge

“The independent evaluation provided by NEA provided a really useful insight into

the project and helped bridge the gap between predicted outcomes and the true to

life examples within the homes.” Neil Walker, Energy & Renewal Surveyor, Watford Borough Council

CERAMIC FUEL CELL mCHP EVALUATION National Grid - Affordable Warmth Solutions (NG-AWS) commissioned NEA to evaluate the performance of three ceramic fuel cell micro-combined heat and power units (mCHP). The units were installed in community centres and sheltered housing in Staffordshire, Lancashire and Chesterfield. The ultimate aim was to demonstrate increased energy efficiency and reduced energy bills.

What did NEA do?

The role of NEA was to determine how the technical and financial performance of the mCHP compared to the model of performance provided in the initial projections.

NEA analysed the performance data available from the manufacturer’s own platform, and supplemented this by carrying out energy and heat metering on the outputs from the unit, analysing residents bills and placing thermal loggers within the properties. What did the client gain?

1. An independent impartial comparison of actual and predicted performance

2. Recommendations on how to improve future installations and funding proposals

CASE

STUDY

THIRTEEN GROUP HOME ENERGY CONSULTATION & ADVICE STUDY The project aimed to gain an understanding of the housing stock owned and managed by Thirteen in Middlesbrough, Stockton & Hartlepool. The team explored the energy use and heating requirements of 100 tenants, as well as their knowledge, behaviours, and attitudes to energy saving and new technologies. In addition, NEA evaluated the building fabric and technological status of the homes.

Householders received face-to-face energy efficiency advice to improve their understanding of how to manage energy consumption, reduce their fuel costs and improve comfort. This advice was followed up six months later with 20% of participants to assess the effectiveness of the advice and any changes made as a result. NEA worked closely with Northumbria University to model a sample of house types to assess the most effective improvements in terms of cost savings for residents and payback for Thirteen Group.

What did NEA do?

NEA engaged with tenants to secure their involvement in the project. We then conducted questionnaires and provided energy efficiency advice to 100 households. This advice enabled residents to make best use of their heating systems through energy saving behaviour, supplier or tariff changes and income maximisation.

CASE

STUDY

What did the client gain?

1. Energy saving advice provided to 100 housing

association residents

2. Detailed information on energy behaviour and attitudes

3. Knowledge of advice needs & commonly reported issues

to target to improve energy efficiency

4. Detailed modelling of improvements which would be

cost-effective and energy saving to Thirteen and tenants

Success and testimonial

“This work has helped Thirteen identify where more or different tenant support is required, what physical issues we can work to address, and given us information for any potential future investment in energy efficiency.” Steve Boal, Property Manager, Thirteen Group.

“The study provided detailed information on tenant needs, behaviour and attitudes, which will be really useful for us in engaging with communities, and identifying where we can best assist.” Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy, Northern Gas Networks.

OTHER PROJECTS National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions Rural Project - An evaluation and

comparison of Air Source Heat Pumps and a new gas main connection in two

separate off-gas communities.

Matilda’s Blanket - A technical and social evaluation of internal wall insulation.

Excess Winter Deaths in Watford - A Keep Warm Stay Well project investigation of the

increasing trend in excess winter deaths in the Watford Borough.

Tadpole (SGN) - An assessment of installing Tadpole units in the heating circuit of oil-

fired boilers.

ENWL Power Saving Challenge Project - Explored the potential to reduce winter

peak load on the grid within a community as an alternative to upgrading the

electricity distribution infrastructure. Households received energy efficient appliances

and technologies and advice to encourage behaviour change.

TECHNICAL INNOVATION FUND - EXPLORING NEW SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGING PROBLEMS The Technical Innovation Fund (TIF) is part of the wider £26.2 million Health and Innovation Programme which aims to bring affordable warmth to over 6,000 fuel poor and vulnerable households in England, Wales and Scotland over a 30-month period. Through TIF the technical team has administered a significant grant fund of £4.95 million to 44 technical programmes delivering over 2000 innovative measures to fuel poor households.

We are facilitating community-level trials of innovative solutions in England and Wales looking at both high-cost measures such as hybrid heat pumps, park home insulation, CHP and energy storage; and low-cost measures such as smart heating controls, heating system enhancement devices and voltage power optimisation. The team is working with partners to undertake robust social and technological evaluations to determine the impact of these measures on fuel poor households.

By the start of 2017:

1,926 households had received at least one technical intervention

Direct advice and support provided to over 940 vulnerable residents

Through TIF 292 frontline workers and trusted intermediaries trained expecting to reach around 106,000 clients per year

TECHNICAL INNOVATION TRIALS

‘Heating’ ‘Controls’ ‘Insulation’ ‘Storage’ ‘Generation’

19 technologies, 74 products

Air to Air Heat Punp

ASHP (Hybrid)

Biomass Heating

Controls

Electric Heating

Electric Storage Heating

Flue Gas Heat Recovery

Ground Source Heat Pump

Gas Absorption Heat Pump

Heating Enhancement Devices

Insulation

mCHP

Park Home Insulation

P.V. Energy Storage & Diverters

Radfan

Solar thermal

Thermal Store

TRV/Zoning

Voltage Power Optimisation

Ventilation

© NEA March 2017

NEA

6th Floor (Elswick)

West One

Forth Banks

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 3PA

Tel: 0191 2692904

Email: technical@nea.org.uk

Website: www.nea.org.uk

NEA is an independent charity, Registration Number: 290511,

Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales

Number: 1853927.

Cheshire EastCouncil