It was HOT, HOT, HOT at the HOP!
by Chris Poole, Chair
Dateline Tuesday 19 July:
It was supposed to be our latest HOP meeting, but forecast temperatures nearing 40C forced a rethink. The situation was not helped by the proposed venue boasting huge glass windows and no air-conditioning to boot. The meeting was rearranged for 23 August at Queens Hills Community Centre. The day dawned hot and humid, with temperatures predicted to be above 30C, but this time the venue was air-conditioned. We were on!
A quick light lunch enabled an informal chat with the day’s presenters and committee members. It also allowed a couple of late arrivals from King’s Lynn, who had been held up by traffic, to catch up and join us. First up was Robin from WEA, the adult education charity, who delivered a slick presentation on how to save energy at home. Unfortunately, it was difficult for Robin to give precise figures, simply because the energy markets were (and still are) so volatile, changing on a daily basis. One thing was clear: energy costs, both for business and for domestic users, is set to rocket, meaning not only higher costs in the home, but also higher prices for everything we consume. Some of the information was eye opening. We were shown comparisons of the cost of running various domestic appliances, with tumble dryers, electric showers, fan heaters, hair dryers and ovens topping the list of villains!
Robin said that he would be delighted to give his presentation to Broadland tenants. Please let your local residents’ association rep, Neighbourhood Officer or Scheme Manager know if you are interested. Remember, HOP is here to help, and we say it’s well worth your time - it could save you money.
Next up to get us ‘Hopping’ was Justin O’Connor, Broadland Housing’s Head of Asset Management. Part of Justin’s responsibilities includes making decisions on the thorny environmental issues that will affect us all in the coming years. Broadland have a varied housing stock, he explained, from new builds, which exceed the Government’s minimum standards, to much older properties with many differing problems. Again, scientific advice arrives on constantly shifting sands: what’s deemed to be the greenest, lowest carbon-creating solution for heating or insulation one month might be written off the next. All of this means that often extremely expensive decisions are incredibly difficult to make. After 2025, under new Government regulations, no gas boilers will be installed, so what will come next? Solar panels, heat pumps, different fuels for boilers? There’s a long list of contenders and an even longer list of arguments. The jury is still out, so watch this space.
The meeting ended after Stephani Davis, Head of Housing, filled us in on the new management structure at Broadland.