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Summary

The aim of the « energy ambassador » plan of action is to help the Haute-Savoie families in difficulties to manage their energy bills. This programme is financed by the Conseil General of Haute-Savoie - Local Authorities.

Following activities are addressed both to vulnerable households and to the professionals in contact with them:

• Training on saving energy and water for qualified social workers and those in training;
• A telephone service to answer any question concerning energy or water consumption, for professionals and volunteers in contact with people in difficulties.
• Development and distribution of a written guide (the "ant's guide") to help social care professionals and volunteers in supporting people in difficulties to manage their energy and water consumption and bills.

Results

Results on consumption evaluation made by the ambassadors during home visits:

• 58% of home visits helped to detect overconsumption problems of gas or electricity
• 34% of diagnosis have detected problems regarding low consumption . This is to be taken into consideration because it can reveal unsuited behaviours that could cause health or sanitary problems for families with difficulties.

Most of advices are given on the use of domestic appliances and power (36%), ventilation and airing (25%). Advices were also given regarding heating issues (17%), on subscription and off peaks periods (11%), water consumption (6%) and oil stove (5%).

During home visits, the ambassador points out possible problems linked to the building that can influence families' consumption or comfort. In most of the cases, energy related problems mainly concerned boilers (28%), and regulation issues (27%). Other identified problems were bad windows (18%) and motorised ventilation (12%) followed by water leaks (9%) and radiators (6%).

Lessons learned and repeatability

Guénaëlle CARTON, energy ambassador, explains the importance of this collaboration with social workers: In order to work with families on their energy and water consumption and on the management of their energy costs, it is necessary to have a comprehensive approach to the household budget.

Social workers are the first to be in contact with families and they can detect difficulties linked with energy. Without this collaboration, we would just have access to people who cannot pay; which is quite restrictive. Some families stop heating in order to be able to pay their bills. Others are cutting down on other expenditure, such as for food, to keep on paying their bills. And it is really important to help them€.

Guénaëlle CARTON trained in 2007 more than 530 people that were tenants, social workers or future social workers. She also worked with the staff of local authorities.

Home visits are appreciated by families, phone advices and diagnosis can complete home visits and allow a greater number of treated problems.

Awareness raising meetings towards general public and trainings for social workers and future social workers have a great success.

To get concrete results and measure the effective savings on this programme, Guénaëlle CARTON proposed to the financial partners to check the energy and water consumption one year after home visits and advices. It can be done with the help of the energy providers (furbishing the consumption details). The main problem could be the confidentiality rules on private data, but it will help to evaluate the action€s legitimacy.