DraughtBusters

Energy saving advice and help

Draughtbusting in the Smart City

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DraughtBusters has a desire to improve cold, damp and unhealthy properties in Reading, indeed to some extent we have been doing this in a small way for the last six years, small in terms of the big picture but very big to those that have been helped already. 

An opportunity has presented itself whereby the above goals can be moved forward on a scale that we have so far only been able to dream of. This is the TVB Smart City ClusterChallenge Fund which calls for bids to install monitoring systems that can record temperature, humidity, occupancy, CO2 (indicative of occupancy/ draughtiness/ ventilation) and energy use with a view to implementing interventions that will reduce energy use and help with problems of damp, mould and condensation. We are involved as a partner in a bid for this funding.

Although our group did not get the funding we will be doing some monitoring in problem properties and taking a keen interest in other peoples activities in this area.

UPVC Door Problems

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Remarkably this year 2017 we have seen for the first time a lot of problems with uPVC doors. In previous years we rarely saw problems with these doors.

It is generally possible to adjust both uPVC and aluminium doors and we particularly like this little video which give a good explanation of how to adjust door latches.  We would like to reiterate how important it is to ensure that the door still locks!  Due to the fact that with uPVC doors the frames are made from plastic cheaper varieties can use screws that fix only into the plastic making adjustment difficult and if overtightening happens then larger screws may be needed, where the screws that hold the keep bar are housed into the plastic frame it is almost impossible to get satisfactory results. In theory it should be possible to get a new keep plate but in practice this is virtually impossible and fitting new lock mechanisms to PVC doors is really a factory operation and needs the frame in the factory too.

Digital Camera

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PM lends support

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Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Reading’s Repair Cafe and DraughtBusters thanking them for the work they do in helping create a society that works for everyone:-

10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SW1A 2AA

THE PRIME MINISTER    

Dear Mr Cowling                                                                                                                                6 February 2017

Thank you for your email of 13 December 2016. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

I appreciate your invitation to the events at Repair Cafe Workshop on 15 January and 19 February. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the former and pressures on my diary will prevent me from joining you at the latter.

I would, however, like to take this opportunity to thank you for your work to support the local community through the DraughtBusters project. I was encouraged to read about the excellent work done to support over 200 households in Reading. I am sure the energy bill savings will have a huge impact for lower income households who are facing the costs of keeping warm. Initiatives such as this can play an important role in my vision to create a society that works for everyone.

I wish you every success for the future.

Yours sincerely 

 

 

See link to the original of the letter here 

 

[Media Release] Repair Café with Energy Saving Seminar

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Repair Café is one of the places that you can find out about DraughtBusters

Tony Cowling our lead DraughtBuster said that we have now helped over 250 households in Reading to save energy through draught proofing and by giving advice on how to manage heating systems. The vast majority of this work has been carried out in the homes of the increasing number of people living in fuel poverty in our town.  On average our clients save £120 p/a and all of them are now warmer in their homes. 

Maria Wardrobe, Director of Communications and External Relations at NEA said: “Fuel poverty is a serious and growing concern. Through the Warm Homes Campaign we hope to improve the life chances of residents who are struggling with their fuel bills and ensure they can stay warm and healthy in their homes this winter.”

Some comments received about the DraughtBusters from the people that we have visited:-

“The DraughtBusters were very helpful, efficient and gave me lots of information/tips to further improve the heating efficiency of my home”

“The guys were friendly and really knew their stuff”

“They helped and advised on a lot of things and have made real improvements”.

“Thanks for this and also for an informative and thought provoking talk, cheers ……”  after one of our workshops.

and another “Thank you for sending me the slides. I found your talk very interesting and useful.”

“Your energy advice and draught proofing resulted in us saving 30% on our gas bill comparing 2013/14 with 2014/5  THANKS”  Hazel  from Reading

For more details see the DraughtBusters website or call the WinterWatch team at Reading BC on 0118 937 3747, you can contact DraughtBusters directly via their contact form. 

Notes for Editors

DraughtBusters are a part of Transition Town Reading – a voluntary group who undertake community projects to reduce environmental impact and dependence on oil. Repair Café is a project run by Transition Town Reading. 

National Energy Action is a fuel poverty charity, working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with sister charity Energy Action Scotland, to ensure that everyone can afford to live in a warm, dry home. NEA runs the Warm Homes Campaign, leading up to Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on 17 February – to raise awareness of fuel poverty and its possible solutions.

A project of

Transition Town Reading

Partnered with

Reading Borough Council

Supported by

Reading Rotary Club