Waking up to Winter - January 2015

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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winter RAISING AWARENESS AND PROVIDING GREAT ADVICE FOR YOUR FAMILY WINTER RAISING AWARENESSYOU ANDAND PROVIDING GREATTHIS ADVICE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS WINTER SPONSORED BY: BRITISH GAS

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 7

Waking up to winter

Raising awareness and providing great advice for you and your family this winter

●●Drinking more milk you could prevent the cold virus from taking hold

Avoiding winter chills and spills DOCTOR’S surgeries are busier than ever at this time of year and the record numbers attending hospital A&E departments during the winter months seem constantly in the news.

However, by following some simple steps you can ensure that you don’t need an appointment with your doctor or – worse still – that you don’t become another statistic adding to the A&E crisis.

During the winter months many elderly people suffer falls and find themselves arriving at A&E with broken bones.

It may sound simple but keep an eye on the weather forecast and, if snow and ice are a feature, stay indoors. Ask a neighbour or relative to pick up any essentials that you may need and ensure that the paths around your property have been treated with salt.

Have you noticed how many people have had colds and flu?

It’s not surprising because records show that you’re 80% more likely to pick up a cold in the winter months.

You may not realise it but by drinking more milk you could prevent the cold virus from taking hold. Your immune system plays an important role in keeping you cold free and milk and dairy products will help keep you in tip-top condition. Milk – preferably

●● Make sure you aim for an average of eight hours sleep every night.

semi-skimmed or skimmed, cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais – are all great sources of Vitamins A and B12 and, as well as keeping colds at bay, they’re an important source of calcium for strong bones.

Make sure you aim for an average of eight hours sleep every night. We tend, generally, only to sleep six-and-a-

half hours. A good night’s sleep is vital if you want to stay fit and healthy. The longer winter nights have a tendency to make us want to sleep more, so make the most of it and catch up on the sleep you’ve been missing.

When you awake from your slumber, tuck in to a hearty breakfast and what could be

better than that real winter warmer – porridge? Enjoying a warm bowl-full on a freezing cold morning provides you with a boost of starchy food and fibre which will help keep you feeling fuller for longer and less likely to need a mid-morning snack. Oats are also high in minerals, providing you with a nutrient-packed,

healthy start to the day.

Make your porridge with hot milk and, if you have a sweet tooth, add dried apricots, some raisins or a sliced banana to help you hit your five-a-day target.

Those five-a-day fruit and vegetables are really important during the winter months and there’s plenty to choose from,

including satsumas and juicy clementines and winter veg including carrots, parsnips, swedes and turnips, which can be mashed or roasted or made into a delicious warming soup!

Keep warm, eat healthy, fresh foods and take lots of rest and sleep and, before you know it, the worst of winter will be over.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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WAKING UP TO WINTER

3 7

RAISING AWARENESS AND PROVIDING GREAT ADVICE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS WINTER

Be prepared so you can stay warm NOW that winter is here it’s important that your home is prepared for whatever the weather brings. There are lots of easy things you can do to keep your house feeling cosy in winter.

Firstly, make sure that you lag all piping and don’t forget about any external pipes or taps, as well as any in the garage. If you are going away during the winter months make sure you set your heating with a timer to ensure that it comes on at least once a day; if there is a cold snap and the heating isn’t being used, pipes can freeze and burst resulting in a very costly mess!

It’s important to remember that there’s no point in heating your home if all the heat is being lost through drafty windows and doors or through a badly insulated loft, so make sure your windows and doors fit well and if necessary invest in some draft excluders – or have a go at making your own.

It’s also a good idea to close your curtains in the evening, this will help to keep the heat in and stop draughts. Keep all

● Check your loft insulation is the right depth to prevent fuel bills soaring internal doors closed to help keep your rooms warmer.

It may also be worth checking if you’re eligible for free home insulation as some homes are.

Move all furniture away from radiators, if your radiators are

being blocked, they won’t be able to throw heat out into the room. Heat can also be lost through bare floors, so why not treat your home to a new rug or carpet?

The winter months can be especially hard on elderly

people, so look out for elderly relatives or neighbours.

If you are an older person look into what benefits and grants are available; these can cover various things, from the Winter Fuel Payment to free or reduced price cavity wall insulation.

Get your loft insulated, or do it yourself. And, once it’s done, be sure to check your roof and, if necessary, repair or replace any old roof tiles; missing tiles can result in rain getting in; if your insulation gets wet then it won’t be working efficiently.

If you use a coal fire or wood burner then make sure your chimney is swept. Don’t forget to stock up on fuel, during the colder months – sales of solid fuel rise and the last thing you want is to run out!

For paved pathways and yards, head to your local garden centre to pick up some rock salt, it can be used to melt snow, if there is any, and to stop ice from forming outside.

Make sure you’re prepared for the worst and then you can relax and enjoy your home throughout the colder months.

● Keep your home and yourselves toasty warm this winter

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

Waking up to winter

Raising awareness and providing great advice for you and your family this winter

British Gas helping customers in Liverpool manage their energy and bills this winter As the colder weather sets in, the British Gas team are here to help customers across Liverpool manage their energy use and take control of their bills. Here, Brian Jackson, regional director for the British Gas North West, answers some common questions asked by customers in winter At our contact centre in Hattersley, Manchester, we have more than 360 people ready to help customers between 8am-8pm weekdays and 8am-6pm on Saturdays.

Last year, our team took calls from more than 500,000 customers across Britain.

We helped customers to manage their energy use, find out about additional support on offer for customers requiring extra support and to make sure they were on the best tariff.

In this article, I’ll talk about some of the most common questions we get from customers to help you manage your energy and bills this winter.

There’s lots of help and advice available so if any customer is worried about energy bills this winter, I would urge them to call us on 0800 980 1917 or visit our website for help and advice at www.britishgas.co.uk.

Which tariff should I be on?

We know that choosing an energy tariff can seem a bit complicated, so we’ve made it as simple as possible for people to find out about our different tariff options.

British Gas has four tariffs – three of them are fixed and one is a standard variable tariff. They mean you can choose to “fix” your price and protect you from increases in energy prices, giving you peace of mind.

Our longest fixed tariff runs through until December 2017. And no matter what tariff you’re on, you can switch between our tariffs without paying a fee.

To help you choose which tariff is best for you we now have an online tariff checker, which will allow anyone to check the cost of a tariff based on how much energy they use in their own home.

If a customer isn’t online, all our advisers are trained to do the same thing over the phone.

Brian Jackson, regional director for the North West, British Gas

How can I keep my energy costs down?

The best way to keep your energy costs down is to manage how much energy you use and to try to cut down on energy waste. There are plenty of ways we can help.

Paying by direct debit lets you spread payments equally throughout the year to make it easier for to manage energy bills – so in summer you may be in credit, and in winter effectively in debit, but over the whole year they’ve paid the right amount.

Most of our customers pay by direct debit using an annual payment plan which smoothes the cost of their annual energy bills across the year.

We review direct debits every six months to make sure they stay roughly in line with how much energy is being used.

These can go up or down, but we need regular meter readings to make the payments more accurate.

What kind of help does British Gas offer customers in need of extra support?

If you have a family member or friend you’re concerned about this winter, let us know so we can help.

We can keep an extra eye on people who need extra support, by making sure they’re on our Priority Services Register.

This will mean they can benefit from a wide range of extra support including having an engineer visit their home to take a meter reading, for example, instead of needing to do this themselves to make sure their bills are accurate.

We can also check if a customer is eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme which gives them a discount of £140 on their electricity bill.

We have some extra security options for customers who need extra support to give peace of mind.

We can set a password on their account so that if someone comes to

the house, they’ll be able to ask the person to give the password so they know it’s a British Gas representative.

And they can nominate another person to help manage their bills, meaning we can talk to a family member or friend about their gas or electricity account.

There’s a lot of support that we can offer. We’re here to help.

How can smart meters help me save money on my bills?

Smart meters can help you save money by giving you more insight over what you’re spending on gas and electricity, and the impact of being more energy efficient. That’s because the smart energy monitor that comes with smart meters allows you to see your energy as you use it – in near real-time – and its cost in pounds and pence. You can even set a daily budget to help keep on top of how much energy you’re using.

If you’ve got smart meters with

British Gas, ‘my energy’ makes is easier than ever to understand your energy use by breaking down energy use by day, week, and month; by appliances, lighting and heating; and comparing your home to others like yours, so you can see if you’re using a lot more energy and take steps to reduce waste. This is accessible on laptop, tablet or phone and all figures are displayed in pounds and pence rather than kWh, so you can easily see and understand your use in real terms.

One of the other benefits of smart meters is they send meter readings directly to us. This means an end to estimated bills or needing to be home for the meter reader. You’ll know exactly how much energy you’re using and how much it’s costing, without doing a thing.

■■ To find out if you can get smart meters now, visit www.britishgas. co.uk/smartmeters

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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Waking up to winter

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Raising awareness and providing great advice for you and your family this winter

The Community Action Partnership will benefit Liverpool residents

New energy partnership to help keep Merseyside homes warm Residents in Liverpool could benefit from warmer homes and help with their energy bills this winter thanks to a new partnership in the city.

Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action and British Gas, the UK’s leading energy provider, have teamed up with Liverpool City Council and VIRIDIS, a consortium of local authorities and housing providers across Merseyside, to launch the Community Action Partnership, as part of a £1.2m community investment programme across the UK. Specialist “energy champions” will be trained to help support vulnerable households by offering advice on energy saving support including free

insulation, financial help and other ways to save energy in the home.

Community events in the city will be organised to raise awareness of energy efficiency and the help available.

Maria Wardrobe, director of external affairs at National Energy Action said: “NEA is delighted to be working with British Gas, Liverpool City Council and VIRIDIS to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in our communities.

“Fuel poverty is a serious issue in Liverpool, affecting 14.4% of households in the area.

“Through this partnership we will be able to deliver a range of activities to address the causes and treat the symptoms of fuel poverty, including

training for energy co-ordinators and elected members, advice sessions, and new resources to help communicate the issues more widely.”

The partnership will work with a range of local agencies to promote energy efficiency in communities and improve lives through local support.

Christine Tate from British Gas, which has funded the partnership, said: “Our significant investment in this partnership will mean that help and support is available in the communities that need it most. We are committed to improving lives in the area and have invested in a number of eco schemes in the Wirral and in Liverpool this year to make homes warmer and more efficient.

We expect to deliver tangible benefits

and help to make a significant difference to people’s lives in Liverpool.”

Maggi Howard, chair of VIRIDIS and director of Assets at Liverpool Mutual Homes, said: “The launch of this initiative demonstrates the value of working together with key partners to provide new investment within the region. Many families are now in real fuel poverty and we are now able to deliver a range of activities and events to provide vital help and support. This will greatly improve our ability to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and make a real difference in tackling fuel poverty with a focus to reduce fuel bills.”

Anyone who would like advice and

assistance on heating their homes affordably this winter should call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151.

The advice line operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with a free call-back service for people who leave a message out of hours.

The service, providing a free, impartial and independent telephone advice service to Merseyside residents, currently operates across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, and is partfunded by local authorities in these areas.

It is provided by local charity Energy Projects Plus, www.epplus. org.uk.

More than half a million British Gas customers receive £140 off their bills As the weather turns colder across Merseyside, British Gas has confirmed that the more than half a million people most in need have been paid the Warm Home Discount to help with their winter energy bills.

The Warm Home Discount is a five-year scheme introduced by Government and delivered by energy suppliers to help the most vulnerable with their winter energy costs.

British Gas has the widest criteria of eligibility for the scheme, with no restrictions on the number of

customers that can sign up.

In total, British Gas expects to pay 600,000 of its customers a total of £84m in Warm Home Discount payments in the current financial year.

Over the five years of the scheme it expects to spend more than £300m.

Brian Jackson, regional director of British Gas in the North West, said: “No one should be left in the cold during the winter months.

“That’s why we worked hard to deliver the majority of the Warm

Home Discount before Christmas, and give our customers who are most in need £140 to help with their energy bills.

“We do a lot to help people who are struggling with their energy bills and last year we spent more than £380m helping our elderly, disabled and most in need customers.

“Anyone who’s worried about rising costs can – and should – contact their energy provider or a relevant charity to discuss the help available.”

GETTING THE WARM HOME DISCOUNT People need to apply each year to qualify for the payment, so British Gas has reminded its customers to get in touch if they think they may be eligible.

To be eligible, customers must: ■■ Be receiving the Savings or Guarantee & Savings element of the State Pension Credit ■■ Be receiving eligible means-tested benefits ■■ Have a household income below £16,010 and have a disability or long-

term illness ■■ Or have a household income of below £16,010 and be spending more than 10% on fuel for adequate heating (usually 21 degrees for the main living area) Applications can be made by calling 0800 072 8625 (for credit meter customers), or 0800 294 8604 (for Pay as You Go customers). Alternatively, customers can apply online at www. britishgaswarmhomediscount.com

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 7

Waking up to winter

Raising awareness and providing great advice for you and your family this winter

Exploding energy-saving myths There are many myths surrounding saving energy in the home. The Energy Savings Trust sheds light on some of the most popular beliefs Leaving the heating on all day on a low temperature is cheaper than turning the heating up and down, or on and off, as needed.

●●Energy saving and LED light bulbs come in all shapes and sizes

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FALSE: For the majority of householders, leaving your room thermostat on all day at a lower temperature will not only mean that your home will never be at a comfortable temperature but it will also waste heat when you do not need it.

Room thermostats turn the heat on and off when your home reaches the set temperature that you feel comfortable at.

Combine this with a timer control that tells your heating system to come on only when you

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Cranking up the thermostat heats your home faster.

FALSE: Your room thermostat turns your heating system on or off according to a set temperature. No matter how high you set the temperature, the rate at which your central heating distributes heat remains constant. To heat your home faster, install better insulation. This decreases the rate at which heat is lost through your walls, loft, windows, and floor.

Electrical appliances,

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such as TVs, laptops, phone chargers, don’t use electricity when they’re plugged in but not in use.

FALSE: Some electrical appliances and chargers draw energy even when the devices are not being used. This ‘vampire power’ wastes energy, and the best way to avoid this is to remember to switch off at the wall and pull out the plug.

By avoiding standby, and making sure devices are not left plugged in or idle, a typical home could save between £50 to £80 a year, based on all home appliances, consumer electronics, lights and chargers that have been left on standby mode or have been left on and not in use, using the average electricity cost of 13.52p/ kWh. This information is sourced from DEFRA’s Home Electricity Study.

It is cheaper to run appliances, such as washing machines, at night than during the day

This may be true, but not for most of us. While some households in the UK are on tariffs that vary depending on the time of day, such as Economy 7, the majority of customers pay the same rate at all times of day and night.

However, if you know you are already on an Economy tariff, or are considering switching to one, then running appliances during off-peak periods will be cheaper.

With traditional lightbulbs fittings, you cannot do a straightforward swap with energy saving bulbs and LED light bulbs.

FALSE: Energy saving

and LED light bulbs come in all shapes and sizes and can now be fitted in down-lighters, free-standing lamps and traditional pendants.

Putting plastic tape and a layer of cling-film around draughty windows is better at keeping heat in rather than draught excluders or double glazing.

FALSE: Although physically blocking gaps around your windows with cling film or plastic tape may stop draughts and reduce heat loss, this will not be as effective as draught excluders or double glazing. These more permanent measures reduce heat loss more effectively, keeping you warmer and saving money on your heating bills.

Cavity wall insulation causes damp in the home.

FALSE: In most cases, cavity wall insulation is likely to alleviate and not exacerbate damp in a home. A combination of proper insulation, adequate ventilation and balanced heating will help avoid cold spots and moisture from condensing on your walls.

Assessors should be able to advise you as to whether your home is suitable for insulation and any potential risk from damp.

Solar panels don’t generate electricity on a cloudy day.

FALSE: Whilst solar panels will work most effectively in bright sunlight, they nonetheless continue to collect energy from diffuse light, even on a cloudy day.

Summer months are

the most productive as there are longer daylight hours than in winter.

When using a desktop computer, screensavers save energy.

FALSE: Because your screen remains on, screensavers are basically another programme which consumes energy like any other.

While computers have timed sleep settings which do use less energy, switching off your monitor, or even your whole computer, when taking breaks is the most effective way to stop energy being wasted.

On average, desktop computers cost around £24 a year to run, based on all home appliances, consumer electronics, lights and chargers that have been left on standby mode or have been left on and not in use, using the average electricity cost of 13.52p/kWh. It is difficult and a hassle to switch energy suppliers.

FALSE: There are a number of energy price comparison companies where you can find the cheapest tariff for your area by checking online or by telephone.

Once you have filled in the application with your main details, which typically takes around half an hour, the energy provider will sort the switch for you.

Finding the deal that’s best for you, and switching energy supplier, can be a great way to reduce your energy bills.  To find out more visit www.energysavingtrust. org.uk or The Citizens Advice Bureau.

The top four winter gadgets We round up four top pieces of winter gadgetry.  EXOGLO Jacket and & Power Pack & Charger (£225) With three lightweight, infrared heating panels across the kidney and chest, the EXOGLO Jacket is also waterproof, windproof, breathable and comes with added lycra for four-way stretch, a rechargeable power pack, charger and remote control.  Warmawear Heated Socks (£19.99) Avoid frozen feet with a pair of wool-rich heated socks that keep toes toasty even when switched off. These soft, stretchy socks run on a low current, making them safe to wear

even when wet and can provide heat for up to five hours..  Berghaus Touch Screen iPhone Glove (£22.99) Thanks to this simple invention, there’s no need to take your gloves off to use a touch screen device. Made from a Polartec Powerstretch material that has coating on the forefinger and thumb tips, the wearer can operate their phone as normal.  Hot Rod Heated Travel Mug (from £34.99) To help avoid your coffee getting cold, this clever gadget plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter outlet to maintain the temperature of your beverage.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

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Waking up to winter

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Raising awareness and providing great advice for you and your family this winter

Motorists warned to play it safe on the roads as winter bites

●●Make sure your mobile is completely charged when venturing out in bad weather

AS Britain braces for it’s coldest spell in two years, motorists are being urged to take extra care on the roads.

Last week, the Met Office issued a cold weather warning and increased their yellow alert to amber – signalling severe weather action.

Commuters were urged to be aware of more icy conditions and possible snow flurries.

Not only is inclement weather forcing schools to close and causing havoc on the roads, but snow and ice are creating dangerous driving conditions up and down the country.

Before getting in the car, it is recommended that drivers consider whether their journey

is absolutely necessary.

If they feel that it is, motorists should follow these steps to staying safe on the roads this winter.

Before setting off Allow time to prepare the car before your journey to run through a few simple safety measures.

You should de-ice all windows and mirrors as well as run the heater for several minutes to clear any mist from inside.

Give your lights and wipers a once over to ensure they’re in good working order and give your tyre tread and pressure a check too. The safety systems on your vehicle are dependant on your tyres working effectively in an emergency.

Check you’ve got the following kit in the boot:  De-icer and an ice scraper  A shovel and tow rope in case you become stuck in snow or sludge  A pair of warm boots  A first aid kit  Jump leads  A sat nav as well as a map in case GPS fails  A working torch  Blankets, water and snacks It goes without saying to make sure you don’t drive tired, a recommendation that applies all year round. It takes longer to react when you’re feeling fatigued, so if you start to feel tired, take a break or share the driving.

On the road First and foremost, slow

down and make all manoeuvres gently. While the roads may not appear to be icy, they

can still be slippery and dangerous, particularly if you’re travelling at high

FIREWORLD

●●Motability drivers should take extra care in the bad weather

LIVERPOOL’S NUMBER 1 FIREPLACE CENTRE

Further advice for Motability users With the dark nights and cold weather setting in, disabled motorists can access the best advice on how to drive safely during the winter months by visiting motability.co.uk.

The website features a useful ‘winter driving’ checklist, tips for scooters and powered wheelchair users, as well as answers to frequently asked questions on topics such as winter tyres.

The Motability Scheme provides customers with a worry-free package that includes vehicle servicing and maintenance, full RAC breakdown assistance and tyre and windscreen replacement.

The winter driving tips section features the following advice:  Make sure your anti-freeze and screen wash is topped up  Ensure your mobile phone battery is fully charged before setting off  Plan your route and try to stick to main roads in icy conditions Scooter and powered wheelchair users should check their battery range, as it runs for a shorter

●●Difficult driving conditions in the cold weather mean drivers must take extra care

speeds. This advice still applies on routes that have been gritted.

Bear in mind that stopping distances can be up to 10 times further when there’s ice or snow on the roads.

When coming to a stop, apply the brakes gently. If the car skids, you should release the brakes and depress the clutch.

Should you get stuck in the snow, straighten up the steering and use a shovel to remove any snow from around the wheels.

It’s a good idea to pack an old rug as part of your winter car kit, which can be used in front of the driving wheels to provide some grip when trying to free the vehicle.

distance in the cold and wear something reflective to increase visibility.

Local dealerships can help customers if they require assistance with winter driving. Safety checks for batteries and lights, and antifreeze and screen wash checks are included in the Motability annual service.

Anyone who receives the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment can exchange the weekly payment to lease a new car through Motability.

Insurance, servicing, RAC breakdown assistance and replacement tyres are included in the cost of the lease.

For more information on leasing a car through the Motability Scheme, visit motability.co.uk or call 0800 953 7000.

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email: sales@fire-world.co.uk WIDNES 6 Lugsdale Road WA8 6DH • Tel: 0151 423 5757

Open 7 Days: Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm – Sunday 11am-4pm