Scheme beneficiary and property characteristics
A major heating and/or insulation measure was installed in 149 homes as part of the Healthy Homes programme. Table 1 displays the main demographic and property characteristics of programme beneficiaries. Ages of beneficiaries ranged from 22 to 94 with the average age being 57.7 (SD = 17.5). All but three beneficiaries had a household income of under £16,000. Of the beneficiaries of the Healthy Homes programme approximately 90% described living with a long-term health condition and 21% were living with a disability, 20% of families had a child aged 16 years or under, and 20% were 75 years or older.
The majority of measures installed were new boilers (57.7%) and central heating systems (32.2%). Other works included storage heaters (6.7%) and loft insulation (3.4%). In addition to the installation of major measures, 58 properties (38.9%) also had some minor heating/insulation measures installed. These included but are not limited to: boiler service/repair, gutter clearance, draught proofing, and door/window repairs.
Table 1. Demographic and property characteristics of scheme beneficiaries and beneficiaries who
|
Scheme beneficiaries
N=149 (%)
|
Beneficiaries who completed pre and post WEMWBS
N=78 (%)
|
Beneficiaries who participated in the interview
N=23 (%)
|
Gender*
|
|
|
|
Male
|
47 (32)
|
22 (28.6)
|
5 (21.7)
|
Female
|
100 (68)
|
55 (71.4)
|
18 (78.3)
|
Ethnicity*
|
|
|
|
White British
|
125 (96.9)
|
64 (97)
|
23 (100)
|
Other
|
4 (3.2)
|
2 (3)
|
|
Employment status
|
|
|
|
Employed full time
|
5 (3.4)
|
2 (2.6)
|
1 (4.3)
|
Employed part time
|
6 (4.0)
|
2 (2.6)
|
0 (0)
|
Unemployed
|
87 (58.4)
|
45 (57.7)
|
10 (43.5)
|
Self-employed
|
2 (1.3)
|
2 (2.6)
|
1 (4.3)
|
Retired
|
49 (32.9)
|
27 (34.6)
|
11 (47.8)
|
Property type
|
|
|
|
Bungalow
|
8 (5.4)
|
7 (9)
|
(0)
|
Flat/Maisonette
|
99 (66.4)
|
50 (64.1)
|
16 (69.6)
|
House
|
42 (28.2)
|
21 (26.9)
|
7 (30.4)
|
Occupants*
|
|
|
|
1
|
82 (55.4)
|
45 (57.7)
|
18 (78.3)
|
2
|
38 (25.7)
|
19 (24.4)
|
4 (17.4)
|
3
|
16 (10.8)
|
6 (7.7)
|
0
|
4
|
8 (5.4)
|
8 (10.3)
|
0
|
5+
|
4 (2.7)
|
-
|
1 (4.3)
|
Tenure
|
|
|
|
Owner occupier
|
58 (38.9)
|
32 (41)
|
15 (65.1)
|
Privately rented
|
91 (61.1)
|
46 (59)
|
8 (34.8)
|
Detachment type
|
|
|
|
Terraced
|
92 (61.7)
|
45 (57.7)
|
-
|
End of terrace
|
15 (10.1)
|
10 (12.8)
|
-
|
Semi-detached
|
26 (17.4)
|
14 (17.9)
|
-
|
Detached
|
14 (9.4)
|
8 (10.3)
|
-
|
Other
|
2 (1.3)
|
1 (1.3)
|
-
|
Number of storeys
|
|
|
|
1
|
99 (66.4)
|
54 (69.2)
|
-
|
2
|
35 (23.5)
|
19 (24.4)
|
-
|
3
|
13 (8.7)
|
4 (5.1)
|
-
|
4
|
2 (1.3)
|
1 (1.3)
|
-
|
Main fuel type
|
|
|
|
Electric
|
43 (28.9)
|
25 (32.1)
|
2 (8.7)
|
Gas
|
104 (69.8)
|
53 (67.9)
|
21 (91.3)
|
Oil
|
2 (1.3)
|
-
|
0
|
No working boiler
|
103 (69.1)
|
53 (67.9)
|
-
|
Rooms with no heating
|
68 (45.6)
|
34 (43.6)
|
-
|
Note. *missing data (N ranges for full sample from 129 to 148), - not measured in participants who took part in interviews. On occasions the percentages may not add up to 100% precisely due to the rounding up or down of decimal places.
Impact on health and wellbeing
The WEMWBS was used to assess wellbeing before and after the installation of major measures. Of the 149 homes which received a major heating and/or insulation measure, 78 beneficiaries (representing 52.3% of all scheme beneficiaries) completed the WEMWBS before and after the installation. This response is similar to the response rate reported by an evaluation of a recent large-scale energy efficiency intervention (22). Table 1 displays the characteristics of the beneficiaries who completed the WEMWBS at both time points compared to the overall scheme beneficiaries and these seem to be broadly similar. Ages of participants who completed the WEMWBS ranged from 22 to 93, with the average age being 60.5 (SD = 16.8).
Figure 1a displays the mean scores of the WEMWBS pre- and post-installation. On average people experienced higher wellbeing post-installation (M = 42.49, SD = 9.83) compared to pre-installation (M = 39.31, SD = 11.06). This difference was significant, t(77) = 3.42, p = .001, and represents a medium-sized effect (r = .36, d = .39). However, scores on the pre- and post-WEMWBS are considerably lower than the wider UK population norm of 49.9 (23) and that reported in Hastings, 48.50[1]. Figure 1b displays the responses to the two single questions (“In general, how would you describe your health prior to the preventative works being completed?” and “In general, how would you describe your health now?”) about beneficiaries’ health prior to the installation (retrospective assessment) and post-installation. 101 people completed this question at both time points. On average people reported better health post-installation (M = 2.93, SD = 1.16) compared to pre-installation (M = 2.03, SD = 1.11). This difference was significant, t(100) = 9.29, p = .001, and represents a large-sized effect (r = .68, d =.92).
Data was also analysed to explore the impact of the scheme on health and wellbeing for different groups of beneficiaries, property characteristics, and intervention characteristics. Overall, beneficiary characteristics, property characteristics, and intervention characteristics did not impact on pre- and post-wellbeing or pre- and post-self-rated health. However, there was a significant interaction between minor measures and pre- and post-wellbeing (p < .05) and between minor measures and pre- and post-self-rated health. Figures 2a and 2b display this relationship. In particular, those who had a minor measure installed in addition to a major measure reported greater increases in wellbeing (F(1,76) = 4.99, p < .05) and self-rated health (F(1,99) = 4.65, p <.05) from pre- to post-intervention. This finding suggests that those who had a minor measure installed reported a larger increase in wellbeing and health scores compared to those who did not, suggesting that a combination of both a minor and major measure has a greater impact on wellbeing and health. However, as this is not a controlled study, other variables could influence this finding (e.g. tenure, property type).
Interviews with beneficiaries
Interviews were conducted with 23 beneficiaries of the scheme to generate in-depth primary data regarding the impact of the scheme and develop a more nuanced understanding of beneficiaries’ perceptions of project impacts. Table 1 displays the demographic characteristics of the sample of beneficiaries who were interviewed. Ages of participants ranged from 33 to 87 (M = 61.5, SD = 15.9). The characteristics of the sample were broadly similar to the beneficiaries of the Healthy Homes programme overall, although a larger proportion were owner-occupiers. Participants self-reported numerous health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, mental ill health, cancer, Raynaud’s condition, and arthritis, all of which could be worsened by living in a cold home. Postcode data were analysed using the indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) from the Office of National Statistics to gain an indication of the socioeconomic background of the interviewees. IMD scores range from 1 to 32844 with a low score indicating most deprivation and a higher scoring indicating least deprivation. For the purpose of this research, IMD scores were categorised into quintiles to give an overview of the kinds of areas participants were drawn from. Of the people interviewed 70% lived in the most deprived areas of England (see Table 2). Fourteen (61%) of the interviewees had a new boiler installed, seven (30%) had a whole new central heating system installed, and two (9%) had storage heaters installed as part of the programme. Ten interviewees reported that they also had some minor heating work completed as part of the WHCS such as draught proofing, new thermostats on radiators, energy saving light bulbs fitted, and aluminium foil fitted behind radiators.
Table 2. Index of multiple deprivation (IMD) based on postcode data
IMD Quintile
|
N (%)
|
Band 1 (1-6568) – most deprived
|
16 (70)
|
Band 2 (6569-13 137)
|
4 (17)
|
Band 3 (13 138-19 706)
|
3 (13)
|
Band 4 (19 707-26 275)
|
0
|
Band 5 (26 276-32 844) – least deprived
|
0
|
The section below presents the findings of the interviews conducted with 23 beneficiaries of the H&R CCG Healthy Homes programme, focussing on the perceived impacts of the programme. All beneficiaries interviewed reported positive impacts of having new heating measures installed in their homes. These impacts were broad and included: i) Thermal impacts; ii) Physical health impacts; iii) Psychological wellbeing impacts; iv) Psychosocial impacts; and v) Financial impacts. Before these are described in detail, people’s motivations for applying to the WHCS are summarised to help understand the context of these reported impacts. The primary reason people applied to the scheme was that they were either currently cold in their home, or they were worried about being cold in the future. It was very common for people to report being worried and concerned about how they were going to cope with upcoming winters with their old heating systems. Two beneficiaries reported not having any heating in their home at all, with one person stating that they “put the oven on for an hour to take the chill out” (B19, Male, central heating replacement, 60 years old). Many of the people who did have some form of heating described that it was not effective in keeping them warm. One woman, who was in her late 60s, only had a single oil-filled radiator in her two-bedroom flat and this was in the living room, which meant this was the only room that had any heating:
“All I had was an oil-filled radiator, and I have got Parkinson’s…And I suppose it was that I was feeling the cold more, and I thought I have got to do something about this”. (B4, Female, central heating, 68 years old).
Many of the people who did have some form of heating described their heating systems as being old and faulty, with one person describing that their boiler broke down as frequently as a couple of times a week. This meant that some of the people interviewed reported regularly having no heating or hot water. Many people reported using alternative strategies to stay warm. These included using hot water bottles, wearing hats and gloves indoors, using portable heaters, and only heating one room. For example, one couple who lived in a privately rented flat had a very old and temperamental boiler, which meant they struggled to keep warm. They reported that when they were inside they had to dress like they were going “out in the snow”. Two of the people interviewed lived on the seafront and they reported that the cold was exacerbated by the coastal weather conditions, making it particularly uncomfortable:
“I live in a flat on the seafront, and believe me when the wind comes off, straight onto these houses, it’s like being able to have a free wash and blow dry because the rain would come in and drip down. So that was the wash, and then I’d step back to the wind, to blow dry my hair”. (B20, Female, storage heaters, 61 years old)
Some people also reported that not only were their heating systems not working properly but they also had concerns over the safety of their boilers. For example, one man described that when he turned on his 62-year old boiler he experienced gas blow backs from the boiler, which made him feel dizzy. Another woman, who also has four young children living at home, described how her old boiler was leaking carbon monoxide:
“They said our boiler was probably one of the worse they’d seen, I think it was 30 years old and it was leaking carbon monoxide. So it really needed to be changed…either the thermostat didn’t work, it didn’t heat, we were using electric heaters, like the really cheap fan heaters, which again cost a fortune to run”. (B5, Female, new boiler, 42 years old)
The majority of participants said that they would not be able to afford to pay for a new central heating system or replacement boiler themselves, and for those people who lived in private rented accommodation it was often difficult to get landlords to fix the heating:
“There was no window in my downstairs toilet for five months, they didn’t even come and board it up, I had rain pouring through the ceiling. It was bad, the house was really bad, I think there was about thirty repairs that needed doing”. (B16, Female, new boiler, 52 years old)
As well as concern over inadequate heating people also reported applying to the scheme because they noticed that their fuel bills were very expensive and they wanted advice on how these could be reduced. Many of the people reported how expensive it was to heat their home. For example, some of the people interviewed were aware that that their heating systems were inefficient, which is why their fuel bills were higher than expected. One person described how his gas bills were extremely high even in the summer when he did not use any heating.
Thermal impacts – “it’s the first time it’s ever been that warm”
As described earlier many of the people interviewed were either living with no heating or inadequate heating. Therefore, as might be expected, the majority of participants reported feeling warmer since their new heating systems had been installed in their home. There was a significant cold spell in the winter of early 2018 and many of the beneficiaries commented that they were very happy to be able to have adequate heating and warmth during this period.
“To be warmer is lovely I have to say, because I can’t deal with the cold at all. And neither can my husband as he’s got older. To have that little extra bite of heat is gorgeous”. (B2, Female, new boiler, 60 years old)
“That cold spell we had with the snow when it got bitterly cold, to have that warmth when I needed it, to be able to put it on and have the whole flat beautifully warm. I think it’s the first time it’s ever been that warm, it’s been marvellous”. (B11, Female, central heating, 87 years old)
Those people who also had children living at home reported that their children also feel warmer now, which for them was the most important impact:
“The children are warm, which I suppose is probably the biggest thing”. (B5, Female, New boiler, 42 years old)
It was also common for people to report that they generally felt more comfortable since having their new heating installed. Many people reported that because they were warmer they no longer needed to use strategies to keep warm, such as wearing extra blankets or layers of clothes when they were in the house:
“It [new boiler] has just made life more comfortable for me, all round. Last year I was putting on all sorts to keep myself warm”. (B3, Female, new boiler, 82 years old)
“I don’t have to overdress in the house. Before I’d have a jumper on, t-shirt on, pyjamas on top of that, or underneath it, dressing gown, you know, a blanket to sit with. I don’t need to do as much as that”. (B16, Female, new boiler, 52 years old)
Several people also reported that the damp in their home had also improved because it was warmer:
“There’s definitely an improvement. I think because the flat was a little bit damp before, so now that I’ve got proper heating in every room, it’s getting rid of the damp and that’s really helping”. (B18, Female, central heating, 45 years old)
Finally, not only did people report that they are warmer now but that they could also get warm water whenever they want, something which is required throughout the year, not only during cold months.
Physical health impacts – “I am not in so much pain”
Many of the people interviewed described numerous positive impacts on their physical health, which they directly attributed to having improved heating in their homes. Firstly, there were frequent examples where people reported fewer health problems such as chest infections, pneumonia, and colds, compared to when they had their old heating system:
“The thing is before when I got pneumonia it was around Christmas time in January, but this winter I would say I have not, unlike all my friends who have had colds or had flu or whatever, I have not had the slightest bit of a cold or slightest bit of pneumonia or anything at all, I’ve kept well all the time touch wood. Touch wood I’ve had a completely illness free winter”. (B9, Female, New boiler, 76 years old)
“It's made it better in that, like I got chest infections regularly anyway, but my chest infection wasn’t as bad this year as it was last year, so it wasn’t as bad after the [new] boiler”. (B8, Female, new boiler, 33 years old)
Several of the beneficiaries also reported less pain now that they were warmer. This was particularly evident for those people who suffered from arthritis. The two quotes below illustrate how the cold worsened one person’s arthritis and also how having a warm home can alleviate arthritic pain:
“I suffer from arthritis and when it gets cold that’s when the pain comes in my hands. Bad. And my legs. And I used to phone my daughter. She goes, “What’s the matter?” Cos I was crying. I goes, “I can’t cope with this. It’s so bloody cold. It’s making all my legs really, really hurt.” (B22, Female, Storage heaters, 69 years old)
“I have got very bad arthritis everywhere, and if I am warm I am not in so much pain. So it’s [warmth] helped everyway.” (B3, Female, new boiler, 82 years old)
Another person, who suffers from a range of health problems, describes how being warmer has reduced the pain and suffering she experiences when cold. She goes on to say later in the interview that she has taken fewer painkillers than she did last year:
“One of my biggest problems is temperature control, my internal thermostat just doesn’t work, so if I get cold, it’s really hard for me to warm up and if I get cold it increases my pain levels. So the fact that I’ve been able to stay warm this last winter, has probably, overall, reduced my level of suffering, because I haven’t been freezing cold and therefore in more pain”. (B17, Female, central heating, 39 years old)
Another woman described that she is also visiting her GP less frequently because she is in less pain:
“I broke my leg last year, in two places, so I’ve got metal pins in my leg, and when it was cold, the year before, I always thought it was an old wives tale, that when it’s cold, it affects your bones, but of course having metal pins, it really did affect the pain, so I was sort of going up and down to my doctor”. (B13, Female, new boiler, 59 years old)
Several of the people interviewed also described that being warmer in their home has meant they can now move around more, which has the positive effect of reducing their pain:
“Yeah because my muscles hurt sometimes, really, really bad they hurt and if the heating’s on, and they’re playing up, I can walk a bit”. (B16, Female, new boiler, 52 years old)
Two people also reported that their children’s health is better. Specifically, the woman below describes that she can now bathe her daughter regularly, due to having hot water and being warmer when she comes out of the bath, which has had a positive impact on her young daughter’s eczema:
“The other aspect is that my daughter, she’s got eczema, and so I like her to have a bath at least every other day so that I can apply her cream that she gets from the doctor. It was just such a pain with the old boiler because it cooled down so quickly but I couldn’t then top it up with hot water, because it would come out cold for the first five minutes. So now she’s having more regular baths and her eczema’s a lot better, because I’m able to keep on top of her treatment”. (B17, Female, central heating, 39 years old)
Finally, this same participant discussed that having no access to hot water was impacting her personal hygiene. Although this was only mentioned by one person this impact of having no hot water and heating is significant because of the associated negative physical (and social impacts):
“It’s helped me with hygiene and things, because obviously, I wasn’t comfortable having a shower before, because it switched off and I’m suddenly freezing cold with shampoo in my hair or whatever, well I just didn’t do that anymore. I was having a bath maybe once a week or ten days or so and probably not washing my hair and things…I’m actually a lot more hygienic”. (B17, Female, central heating, 39 years old)
Psychological wellbeing impacts – “It’s just made my life so much easier”
Many of the interviewees also reported that having the new heating measures had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing which was attributed to a range of different factors. For example, many participants reported anxiety about their old boiler breaking permanently, not being able to afford to fix it and being left without heating and getting cold. Having a new and working heating system helped alleviate a lot of this worry and anxiety:
“Last winter I thought, I can’t go through another winter like this. But I just knew I couldn’t afford it to have it done”. (B4, Female, central heating, 68 years old)
“It’s stress and strain off me because I am confident that it’s new and it’s going to work”. (B3, Female, new boiler, 82 years old)
Another woman who was living in a rented property described the worry of having to look for somewhere else to live with her young daughter because of having no heating or hot water, something that she no longer has to think about:
“Although I think my landlord would have dealt with it, I don’t think he would have immediately dealt with it and I would have had to have found somewhere to go, because I couldn’t have stayed there, if there was no heating or hot water. I don’t worry about that now, so that’s less stressful. It was always the question, can I even stay here? Do I need to actually find somewhere else to live, because this is really becoming a problem…I don’t have to worry about that now. So it’s had a direct impact on my mental stress levels as well, it’s really reduced that level of that particular kind of anxiety”. (B17, Female, central heating, 39 years old)
People’s sense of wellbeing also increased in numerous ways with one person describing “it’s made life a lot happier” (B21, Male, central heating, 54 years old). Some people described that living in a cold home can make them feel “ashamed”, and one man described having no heating as “psychologically degrading” (B6, Male, new boiler, 74 years old). The quote below illustrates how having a warm home has improved one woman’s sense of pride and self-worth:
“My dignity as well and my pride and my self-worth, because you feel almost like a homeless person if you’re in a cold house and you can’t feed yourself properly. There’s a lot of shame involved in that.” (B10, Female, New boiler, 37 years old)
Several people who lived with depression said that having a working heating system and being warm helped them with their mental health:
“Just wonderful knowing that they [engineers] were coming and then when it was installed, just the peace of mind, feeling faith with your boiler. It’s anyone’s biggest fear that the boiler’s going to go and it was just a wonderful feeling. I suffer from depression and that really lifted my spirits. I know it sounds daft, it used to be diamonds and pearls but now it’s my boiler”. (B13, Female, new boiler, 59 years old)
“The depression is much improved, just knowing that you haven’t got to go through the winter, thinking am I going to be able to afford this, will I have the money to do this? And being much more comfortable, without putting loads of blankets on you and feeling like a normal person does”. (B20, Female, storage heaters, 61 years old)
Many of the people living in fuel poverty who were interviewed had complex and chaotic lives where having no heating was described as one multiple challenges they faced such as physical health conditions, poor mental health, and not being able to afford food. Making people warmer is one way to relieve the stress and this is reflected in the quote below:
“it’s just made my life so much easier, because when you’re very, very vulnerable, depressed, and dealing with whatever health conditions you’re dealing with and you’re cold and you’re hungry, that pushes you right to edge. To be able to be warm, even if sometimes I was hungry this winter, it just made such a difference”. (B10, Female, New boiler, 37 years old)
Therefore, not surprisingly, several people described that the mental health impacts of having a warm home were the most significant to them:
“The mental side of the health side, because mentally it destroys you, if you’ve not got the proper things you need. I know it’s warm enough to turn the tap on and it’s hot. It’s like a big relief, instead of sitting there saying “oh I’ve got to go downstairs, boil the kettle ten times to put in the sink”, up and down the stairs, and don’t want to get out of bed because you’re shivering, because it’s cold, so I think the mental side of it.” (B16, Female, new boiler, 52 years old)
Finally, one impact of having a new heating system, which influenced people’s wellbeing was an increased sense of control. In particular, some people discussed feeling like they now had some control over their environment and that they could adjust their heating depending on how they felt due to the installation of a thermostat. This was especially important for people who previously had storage heaters, which did not allow you to adjust the temperature:
“Since I’ve had the new boiler, I am in control of the temperature…I’ve got it exactly how I need it to be”. (B17, Female, central heating, 39 years old)
Psychosocial impacts – “My house became a home”
Some of the people interviewed also commented on the broader benefits of having heating works installed in their home. Firstly, some of the beneficiaries reported that the new installation opened up rooms that were previously unheated, therefore increasing the amount of space they could use in their home. For example, one woman described that before she had a new boiler installed she and her daughter would just stay in the living room but now the whole flat is warm they can move around more:
“I’m more mobile within the flat. So instead of us all huddling on the sofa with a duvet, I’m pottering around doing stuff”. (B17, Female, central heating, 39 years old)
Similarly, another woman described how she is now able to “live” in her flat and is no longer confined to a single room because her whole flat is warm. These impacts are best reflected in the quote below where a woman describes that her “house became a home”:
“I was cold, I had to have one room heated, and so I would have to put myself in one room, keep the door closed, and just heat one room. This winter I have been able to come in and out of rooms and have all the rooms warm... So I’ve been able to move around my flat, I’ve been able to live in it”. (B10, Female, new boiler, 37 years old)
Another significant impact described by one of the women interviewed is that she felt that she could now invite friends to her place. This is because not only is her flat warmer and so visitors would be more comfortable but also because previously she had felt ashamed about her situation and had felt too embarrassed to have people around. As such, she consequently reported feeling less lonely:
“I didn’t really have people over because of the shame of the situation, so it’s very valuable because I’ve had people over which has provided me with support and seeing people that I wouldn’t have had the winter before…people have been able to come over and sit and talk”. (B10, Female, new boiler, 37 years old)
Several beneficiaries described that having working heating gave them more freedom to decide whether to stay in or go out. For example, one person reported that because they knew their home was warm they were more likely to stay in rather than go out to find somewhere to get warm. On the other hand, several people described they feel they can now go out knowing they will come back to a warm home. Fundamentally what seems to be important is that people now feel they have some choice over what to do and no longer feel restricted by the temperature of their home.
“When I go out and I know I can come in at any time and get the flat warm, it’s much better”. (B18, Female, central heating, 45 years old)
Financial impacts – “I’m actually in credit”
Many of the beneficiaries reported a reduction in their energy bills since having their new heating system installed. However, it should also be noted that for some participants it was too early to tell whether there would be an impact on their bills because they had yet to experience a full winter with their new heating.
“I reckon my gas consumption payment saving on just that period over the last twelve months, I would say I’ve saved about 25 per cent”. (B1, Male, new boiler, 63 years old)
“Big improvement. I’m actually in credit. That’s a first. I pay a sum monthly for gas and electric combined and I stuck to the same amount that I had been paying before which was actually 70 pounds a month”. (B11, Female, central heating, 87 years old)
This reduction in energy bills was primarily attributed to a more efficient heating system, which did not need to be on for as long in order to adequately heat up the home:
“We were spending a fortune to keep it so that it wasn’t freezing in here but because it warms it up properly now with like a little bit of use we have got a reduction in the heating bill because it doesn’t have to be on absolutely constantly”. (B8, Female, new boiler, 33 years old)
People reported that this reduction in their energy bills relieved financial pressure, which is especially significant for people who are already living on an extremely limited income:
“I’m mainly on Incapacity Benefits, so I don’t get a lot of money as you can imagine, and I have to sort of break it down into bills and things like that, so it has made it a heck of a lot easier”. (B21, Male, new boiler, 54 years old)
“My bills have been less. I can’t even afford to feed myself at the moment, I’m taking food vouchers, but as a result of the work that they’ve done for me, it’s ongoing supported me, because all my bills have been so much lower”. (B11, Female, central heating, 87 years old)
However, it is also important to highlight that two people reported an increase in their bills. One person noted that their bills were higher since the installation of the new boiler which was attributed to keeping the heating on for longer compared to their old boiler:
“This time of year we’re keeping the heating on longer. And before we had the new boiler I was inclined to turn the heating off for economy. And now I turn it down when it’s warmed up and I forget about it. So obviously it’s on longer”. (B2, Female, new boiler, 60 years old)
Finally, another beneficiary noted that some of their benefit entitlements had been reduced since the new boiler was installed, and consequently they cannot afford to heat their home as much as they would like, thus highlighting again the complex lives of many of the interviewees.
Footnote:
[1] http://www.eastsussexjsna.org.uk/JsnaSiteAspx/media/jsna-media/documents/publichealthreports/2016_17/DPHreport2016_17_Main_report.pdf