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Advisors Toolkit

The Advisors Toolkit has been developed to provide a wide range of easily-accessible, practical information relating to fuel poverty and energy efficiency.  The Toolkit is aimed primarily at supporting frontline advisors from various fields whose clients include the vulnerable and/or those in fuel poverty. 

The Toolkit will be further developed over time, building on relevant policy and legislation as well as the experience and knowledge generated by work colleagues, member organisations and feedback from the frontline advisors using the Toolkit.   

The Toolkit is available to download below in two formats - by chapter and as individual factsheets. If you choose to download or print this resource and use it offline please check back regularly to see if there are any updates. If you regularly monitor the Toolkit and wish to know what facsheets have been updated a list of can be found here.

Last Updated: 7 May 2013.     

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 

WELFARE BENEFITS REFORMS

I.WAYS TO SAVE MONEY

  1. Billing and Payment
  2. Meters and How to Read Them
  3. Tariffs and Switching
  4. Insulation and Other Physical Measures
  5. Home Energy Monitors and Smart Meters – Monitoring Energy Usage
  6. Renewables
  7. Hints and Tips

II.PAYING FOR ENERGY

  1. Understanding Fuel Bills
  2. Paying by Direct Debit and Standing Order
  3. Paying Quarterly on Receipt of Bill
  4. Prepayment Meters
  5. Regular Payment Schemes
  6. Fuel Direct
  7. Struggling with Fuel Bills/Debt

III.INSULATION AND OTHER PHYSICAL MEASURES

  1. Draughtproofing
  2. Tank and Pipe Insulation
  3. Loft Insulation
  4. Cavity Wall Insulation
  5. Solid Wall Insulation – Internal and External

 IV. SOURCES OF HELP AND FUNDING      

    A.GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES

  1. Scotland

 a. Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS)

             b.Other Scottish Government Programmes

       2.  GB-wide

            a. Feed-in-Tariffs
            b .Renewable Heat Incentive
            c. Green Deal 
            d .Energy Perfomance Certificates
 
    B.HELP FROM ENERGY SUPPLIERS
 
         1. Social Tariffs
         2. Warm Home Discount

         3.Energy Company Obligation

         4. Priority Service Register
         5 .Funds/Foundations/Trusts
         6. Home Heat Helpline 
         7. Additional Support for Advisors
 
 
    C.OTHER SOURCES OF HELP
 
     1. Other Sources of Help and Advice

V. MAXMISING INCOME

  1. Department for Work and Pensions/ DirectGov
  2. Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment

VI. RENEWABLES 

  1. Renewable Technologies and Planning
  2. Solar PV
  3. Solar Thermal
  4. Wind Turbines
  5. Ground Source Heat Pumps 
  6. Air Source Heat Pumps 
  7. Water Source Heat Pumps 
  8. Micro Combined Heat and Power
  9. Wood Fuelled Heating (Biomass)
  10. Micro Hydro

VII. ADEQUATE HEATING AND HEALTH

  1. The Impact of Cold Temperatures on Health
  2. Getting the Temperature Right
  3. Condensation and Dampness