STORY: Winifred – ‘My legs are finally warm… something I’ve not felt in a while’
Winifred, 79, couldn’t remember the last time her legs had been warm. Rising damp was plaguing her health and her energy bills were sky-high. After receiving energy help from a Green Doctor, Winifred found she was warm and well once more.
Winifred was visited by a Green Doctor at her home in Nottingham after she was referred by the council for energy advice.
Winifred suffers from a chronic lung condition that restricts her breathing. Her health issues mean she feels the cold very easily, and therefore battling to stay warm in the winter was a necessity, regardless of rising energy prices. Heating her home was costing Winifred a fortune.
When a Green Doctor examined Winifred’s property, they found mould growing on her front door. Further inspection showed this was a result of dreaded rising damp. The presence of rising damp makes a home much more difficult to heat – with surplus moisture in the air, more energy is required to heat the home. An urgent referral to the housing association landlord was generated on Winifred’s behalf by the Green Doctor to get the process of fixing this underway, something which would eventually reduce her bills.
During the visit, the Green Doctor discovered that Winifred’s home had in fact recently been fitted with solar panels and a heat pump system. However, without proper guidance about how to use the system, Winifred was confused about how it all worked. The Green Doctor showed her the correct settings and heating controls to maximise energy efficiency in her home.
The advisor also showed Winifred how she could reduce her whole house temperature, a tactic which would focus her energy usage more strategically on certain areas of the house, meaning Winifred could focus on keeping herself warm, without having to stress about high bills.
The Green Doctor provided Winifred with energy efficiency measures including LED light bulbs, and energy saving advice. She had mentioned that her legs were always cold, especially when sat down for periods of time. The Green Doctor gave Winifred an electric blanket which she is ecstatic with!
Soon after, the landlord got in touch and works are now planned to sort the problem with rising damp. Winifred’s old, wooden door was replaced immediately and the new door is already preventing further heat loss. Winifred’s home is finally warm.
Winifred said:
The Green Doctor service is top-notch. My legs are finally warm, sometimes a little ‘too warm’, which is something I’ve not felt in a while…
No-one should ever have to choose between heating and eating, but we know this is the reality for increasing numbers of people. You can find out more information and pledge your support here.
About Stay Warm, Stay Well
Stay Warm, Stay Well is a three-year programme that aims to help those living in fuel poverty by offering tailored energy advice, carried out by Groundwork’s Green Doctors.
Funded by the Cadent Foundation and led in partnership by Groundwork, the programme will invest £6m and support 14,500 households in communities across England.
In addition to the Green Doctor support, the programme is also funding an initiative to support the creation of the next generation of energy advisors via a 12-month traineeship opportunity through the Green Doctor Academy, to create more accessible pathways into work.
Find out more: www.groundwork.org.uk/stay-warm-stay-well
