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Prioritising Resident Safety: Combating Fuel Poverty and Enhancing Energy Efficiency
The official number of people who live in a low income household with poor energy efficiency in England in 2024 is 3.17 million, according to the latest government statistics. With over 8 million adults in 2023/24 living in cold and damp homes contributing to worening pressure on the public health system.
Vericon Systems, a leader in smart building solutions, offers intelligently designed remote technology that provides powerful data to improve efficiency, reduces costs, improves compliance, and continuously improves the living conditions of people in rented accommodation.
Source:Inside Housing Survey
Current Challenges
Aging Infrastructure
Much of the UK’s social housing stock consists of older buildings with poor insulation, leading to high energy consumption. Upgrading this aging infrastructure is essential and retrofit projects are happening up and down the country.
– Poor Insulation
Inadequate insulation means more heat escapes, requiring more energy to maintain comfortable temperatures but also means that the external walls are colder increasing the risk of condensation and therefore mould.
– Drafts and Leaking Air
Traditional building techniques and building products weren’t focused on air tightness, for example drafts around doors and windows, resulting in higher greater loss of heat and therefore increased costs to maintain heat in a property.
– High Energy Consumption
Inefficient heating systems and poor building design lead to excessive energy use.
– Increased Maintenance Costs
Older infrastructure often requires more frequent and costly repairs.
How does this link to Fuel Poverty?
– Energy Bills
Poor insulation and inefficient heating systems lead to higher energy consumption, which in turn results in higher energy bills. If the heating system in a property is working harder than it needs to, to keep a property warm, the chance of a breakdown is increased. For residents who are already financially vulnerable, this can lead to significant hardship.
– Health and Safety Risks
Inadequate heating can lead to cold, damp living conditions, which can cause or exacerbate health issues such as respiratory problems and mental health conditions. These conditions can lead to mould growth which in turn can lead to legal action being taken by the resident.
– Resource Constraints and Problem Awareness
Upgrading the infrastructure is essential to address these issues, social housing providers often face limited resources. This means they must prioritise the most urgent repairs and upgrades. However, these upgrades can only be made if housing providers are aware of the problems.
It’s understandable that residents might feel hesitant to report issues due to feelings of embarrassment, such as struggling to pay a gas bill, or confusion about the root cause of a problem, like the unexpected growth of mould in their home. This hesitation can sometimes prevent the essential repairs and upgrades that are needed.
Lack of Real-Time Data
Without access to real-time energy usage and environmental data, it is challenging for social housing providers to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement. Implementing data-driven solutions is crucial for effective energy management and resident safety.
This lack of data leads to several issues
– Delayed Detection of Problems
Without real-time monitoring, inefficiencies such as excessive energy usage or poor heating performance may go unnoticed until they are escalate into significant issues.
– Reactive Maintenance
Housing providers are often forced to rely on reactive maintenance, addressing problems only after they are reported by residents or forced to take action, rather than proactively preventing them at a fraction of the cost.
– Inaccurate Assessments
In the absence of accurate data, it becomes difficult to assess the true performance of properties and identify which buildings need urgent upgrades. These assessments may include interviews with residents which doesnt give the full picture about how the property is being used.
How does this link to Fuel Poverty?
– Energy Bills
Without the ability to monitor energy usage in real-time, it is difficult to identify and rectify inefficiencies. This results in higher energy consumption and, consequently, higher energy bills for residents.
– Missed Opportunities for Improvement
Real-time data can pinpoint areas where minor adjustments, such as addressing an ineffective or switched-off extractor fan, could drastically lower energy consumption. By identifying these issues early, costs can be limited to £100 instead of thousands, breaking the cycle of inefficiency and high expenses.
– Health and Safety Risks
Environmental factors such as humidity and temperature can impact the health and safety of residents. Without real-time data, issues like mould growth or inadequate heating may not be addressed promptly, leading to adverse health effects.
everaging Vericon Systems to Enhance Resident Safety
Smart Building Technologies for Safety
Installing Vericon technology gives social housing providers the data needed to take proactive steps forward in caring for their vulnerable residents.
This technology provides real-time data on various aspects of the property, such as boiler activity, room level temperature & humidity and energy usage.
By identifying issues early, housing providers can take proactive measures to address them, ensuring that properties are maintained to a good standard while highlighting fuel poverty risks. This not only helps in maintaining the aging infrastructure but also improves the living conditions for residents.
By installing these technologies, social housing providers can:
– Ensure Safe Living Conditions
Maintain consistent and adequate heating levels, while preventing dangerous temperature fluctuations that may compromise resident health.
– Reduce Energy Costs
Optimise energy use and reduce waste, leading to lower energy bills for residents and the housing provider.
– Proactively Address Maintenance Issues
Detect and address potential issues before they escalate, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents.
– Validate work packages
Where work has been carried out to address a specific issue real time monitoring can confirm he validity of the work but also highlight any additional issues created by the works.
– Enhance Asset Management
Extend the lifespan of heating systems, while reducing downtime in the colder months. Learn more about the Vericon Summer Boiler Health Check.
Real-Time Data and Analytics
Vericon’s remote monitoring capabilities allow social housing providers to detect and address maintenance issues proactively, preventing potential safety hazards caused by faulty equipment or infrastructure. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can extend the lifespan of heating systems and other energy-related infrastructure, reducing the risk of safety incidents.
– Boiler Monitoring
Ensure the safety of residents by continuously monitoring the boiler’s performance and detecting any malfunctions or potential hazards. It also enables efficient energy usage and allows housing providers to have a better understanding of their assets. This data can also highlight fuel poverty related risks such as:
- Flow temperature
- Target room temperature
- Is there an active gas supply
– Temperature & Humidity
Vericon technology enables remote monitoring giving housing providers real-time visibility into property environmental conditions.
Vericon’s advance algorithms will analyse the data collected from sensors placed within the property to determine the risk level and the severity, allowing the most serious cases to be addressed first. The data, available online will give an insight to the changes throughout the day, and additional in sight to the cause before planned works or interventions are defined. This data can also highlight fuel poverty related risks such as:
- Single room occupancy
- A vulnerable resident
- A void property
– Power Usage
By monitoring power usage, housing providers can identify areas with high energy consumption and implement energy-saving measures for significant cost savings on utility bills. This data can also highlight fuel poverty related risks such as:
– Inconsistent Appliance Usage
Erratic patterns of appliance usage might show that residents are only using certain appliances at specific times or days.
– Underheating
Residents maybe using significantly less electricity than expected, it may indicate that they are underheating their homes to save money.
The integration of Vericon Systems’ smart building technologies presents a viable solution to enhancing resident safety, improving energy efficiency, and reducing fuel poverty in social housing. By leveraging real-time data, remote monitoring, and proactive maintenance capabilities, social housing providers can ensure safe living conditions, optimise energy use, reduce costs, and stay compliant.
These advancements are crucial in creating a more sustainable, safe, and fair future for social housing residents.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact Vericon Systems today to book a demo and see firsthand how intelligently designed remote technology solutions can transform your housing operations and support your residents.
Tel: 01242 582 555 or email [email protected]
Together, we can make a significant impact in combating fuel poverty and ensuring a better future for social housing.
The Real Challenge Social Landlords Face with Damp and Mould Issues
Managing damp and mould is an ongoing challenge for landlords. This problem is often exacerbated by the reliance on unstructured and fragmented data from multiple systems. The lack of integration makes it difficult for landlords to obtain a comprehensive view of the problem, hindering their ability to understand the data and prioritise repairs effectively.
The Data Dilemma
Social landlords typically collect environmental data from various sources to monitor the condition of their properties. However, these data sources are often isolated in different systems, providing only a partial view of the issue at hand. This fragmentation leads to inefficiencies in identifying and addressing damp and mould problems, as it is challenging to pinpoint the most critical areas requiring attention.
Vericon offers a solution to this problem. By integrating environmental data from multiple devices across an entire property portfolio into a single online portal, Vericon provides a unified view of the property conditions.
This comprehensive approach allows social landlords to monitor their properties in real-time, analyse, and act upon environmental data efficiently.
Vericon’s online portal leverages powerful data analytics to help housing providers make sense of the vast amount of information collected by their sensors. The platform identifies patterns, pinpoints problem areas, and generates easy to understand actionable reports. This data-driven approach ensures that housing providers can address issues promptly and effectively.
Powerful Data Analytics
Integrating all damp, mould, and environmental data into a single online portal offers social housing providers a multitude of benefits that streamline property management and enhance the living conditions for residents.
Comprehensive Data Integration
Having all environmental data, including damp and mould information, in one online portal provides a unified view of the property portfolio’s conditions. This integration breaks down data silos and allows for a holistic understanding of various environmental issues across different properties. Additionally, incorporating boiler telemetry into this centralised system can help identify issues such as fuel poverty, which has a direct link to the risk of damp and mould. By monitoring boiler performance and usage patterns, housing providers can detect signs of fuel poverty early and take proactive measures to mitigate its impact, thereby reducing the likelihood of damp and mould development.
Efficient Monitoring and Reporting
Vericon’s online portal leverages powerful data analytics to help housing providers make sense of the vast amount of information collected by their sensors. The platform identifies patterns, pinpoints problem areas that require immediate attention, and generates actionable reports. For instance, it can detect if ventilation fans are being turned off, working ineffectively, or even if they need cleaning. This level of detailed monitoring ensures that housing providers can address issues promptly and effectively, preventing small problems from escalating into larger, more costly repairs.
Streamlined Decision-Making
With all relevant data accessible in one place, decision-makers can more effectively prioritise repairs and maintenance. This ensures that resources are allocated to the most critical areas, improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of property management.
Enhanced Predictive Maintenance
Centralised data enables advanced analytics and predictive maintenance strategies. Using Community Learning and AI, Vericon can identify patterns and trends in environmental conditions meaning housing providers can take proactive measures to prevent issues before they escalate, reducing long-term repair costs. For example, Vericon can highlight ineffective fans or fans that have been turned off. Addressing these issues promptly can cost around £100, whereas waiting for the problem to escalate can result in repair costs running into thousands of pounds. This proactive approach ensures that minor issues are resolved before they become major, costly problems.
Centralised Historical Data
Maintaining a historical record of environmental data in one portal allows for trend analysis over time. This historical perspective is invaluable for identifying recurring issues, assessing the effectiveness of past interventions, and planning future maintenance strategies.
Regulatory Compliance
Having a comprehensive and easily accessible record of environmental data supports compliance with regulatory requirements. Housing providers can demonstrate a proactive approach to maintaining property standards, reducing the risk of penalties associated with poor living conditions.
Enhanced Resource Allocation
With comprehensive data in one portal, housing providers can allocate their repair and maintenance resources more effectively. By focusing on the most severe and problematic areas, they can maximise the impact of their efforts and ensure that resources are used where they are needed most.
Improved Accountability
A centralised portal provides a clear audit trail of actions taken to address environmental issues. This accountability ensures that all stakeholders are aware of the steps being taken to improve property conditions and can track progress over time.
Full embedded processes
When a surveyor or operative visits a property with reported damp and mould issues , by scanning the QR code on the device an audit log is created showing the person along with the date and time of their visit. They also have the ability to attach photographs to the room, again date and time stamped to show the actual condition pre and post any work activities.
Scalability
As the property portfolio grows, the centralised portal can easily scale to accommodate additional data and new properties. This ensures that housing providers can continue to manage environmental conditions effectively, regardless of the size of their portfolio.
Having all damp, mould, environmental, and heating telemetry in one online portal empowers social housing providers with a comprehensive, efficient, and proactive approach to property management. This leads to improved health and safety for residents, optimised resource allocation, regulatory compliance, cost savings, and ultimately, higher resident satisfaction.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact Vericon today to learn more about our damp & mould monitoring products and how they can benefit your portfolio.
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.
How to Get Residents on Board with IoT Connected Technology
In the age of smart technology, IoT devices are changing how we manage and maintain our homes. For social housing providers, IoT technology offers a proactive approach to maintaining property conditions, ensuring safety, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. However, despite its numerous benefits, the term “monitoring” often carries negative connotations, leading to concerns over privacy and trust.
Housing providers should educate residents on the benefits of IoT technology, highlighting how it can significantly improve their living conditions while safeguarding their privacy.
Understanding the Benefits of IoT Technology
Boiler Performance Monitoring
Predictive Maintenance: Our IoT technology continuously monitors the performance of boilers to predict potential breakdowns. This proactive approach ensures that residents are not left without heating and hot water, especially during the colder months. By identifying issues before they become major problems, timely repairs can be arranged, minimising inconvenience and discomfort.
Vericon’s BCM (Boiler Control Module) continuously monitors the performance of boilers to predict potential breakdowns. Learn more about the BCM.
Environmental Condition Monitoring
Damp and Mould Prevention
By monitoring humidity levels and other environmental conditions, our technology helps in predicting and preventing damp and mould issues. This not only preserves the structural integrity of the property but also ensures a healthier living environment for residents. Additionally, it allows for the monitoring of retrofit work to ensure it effectively improves living conditions.
Vericon’s Surveyor Cube monitors humidity levels and other environmental conditions to help predict and prevent damp and mould issues. Learn more about the Surveyor Cube.
Energy Consumption Monitoring
Cost Savings
Monitoring power usage enables housing providers to identify areas with high energy consumption. By implementing energy-saving measures, significant cost savings on utility bills can be achieved. This not only benefits the housing provider but also reduces the financial burden on residents, making their homes more affordable to live in. Additionally, fuel poverty or restricting the use of a boiler can directly impact environmental conditions, increasing the risk of damp and mould.
Vericon’s PowerSense monitors power usage, enabling housing providers to identify areas with high energy consumption. Learn more about PowerSense.
Pressure Fault Prevention
Automated Maintenance
One of the most common reasons for residents to contact the helpdesk is due to under-pressure boiler faults. Our IoT technology offers automated top-ups, real-time notifications, and preventative maintenance to avoid these issues. This ensures that residents are not left without heating or hot water, providing peace of mind and reducing the need for emergency engineer visits.
Vericon’s AutoFill offers automated top-ups, real-time notifications, and preventative maintenance to avoid these issues. Learn more about AutoFill.
Addressing Privacy Concerns
One of the primary concerns residents may have is the fear of being constantly monitored. It is crucial to communicate that our IoT technology does not involve any audio or video recording. It is not a “Big Brother” scenario but rather a system designed to enhance their living experience by preventing issues before they occur.
Building Trust in the Technology and Housing Provider
To successfully implement IoT technology, trust needs to be established not only in the technology itself but also in the social housing provider responsible for its installation.
Transparent Communication:
Clearly explain the purpose of the technology and how it works. Transparency is key to building trust. Provide detailed information on what data is collected, how it is used, and the measures in place to ensure privacy and security.
Education and Awareness
Organise workshops, informational sessions, and distribute educational materials to help residents understand the benefits of IoT technology. Use real-life examples and success stories to illustrate how the technology has positively impacted other residents.
Highlighting Investment
The social housing provider should actively showcase their new investment in IoT technology through press releases, online articles, and community newsletters. By publicly demonstrating their commitment to improving residents’ living conditions, they can build trust and show that they are investing in the well-being of their residents.
Customer Support and Feedback
Provide robust customer support through the housing provider to address any concerns or questions residents may have. Encourage feedback which can then be passed on to improve future developments.
Getting residents on board with IoT-connected technology requires a combination of education, transparency, and trust-building. By clearly communicating the benefits, addressing privacy concerns, and involving the community in the process, housing providers can ensure that residents see IoT technology as a valuable tool that enhances their living conditions rather than an intrusive monitoring system.
Together, we can create a smarter, safer, and more comfortable living environment for all.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact Vericon today to discover how our cutting-technology can improve your maintenance strategy, protect your investment and improve the quality of life of your residents.
Complete the form on this page and we will be in contact, alternatively please get in contact us by calling 01242 582 555.