'Pay monthly' project pilots sustainable home, without the upfront cost

HOMEOWNERS looking to make their homes more sustainable and efficient could install:- a heat pump, solar panels and a battery with no upfront cost as part of a pioneering scheme being led by E.ON, which offers both technology and service in a pay monthly contract similar to mobile phone deals.

Taking inspiration from other consumer markets such:- as mobile phones or broadband, customers can spread the cost of the sustainable solutions, installation and running costs over many years.

Heat pumps capture heat from either the air or ground and are a more sustainable and cost-efficient replacement for traditional home heating sources based on fossil fuels. Heat pumps, solar and battery costs can vary, typically between:- £20k and £28k.

Now, in a pilot scheme in the North West of England, homeowners could get an air source heat pump, solar panels and a battery fitted for as little as £150 a month, over a 20 year term, covering the technology and installation as well ongoing servicing, maintenance and breakdown cover, support and optimisation. At today's energy prices, switching to these sustainable solutions could save an average 4 bedroom property almost £800 a year.

Chris Norbury, E.ON UK Chief Executive, said:- "Bundling the technology along with service is commonplace for the many millions of people around the UK who have a mobile phone contract. We're bringing the same flexibility to energy customers so they can benefit from the transition to cleaner and greener homes without the need to find the upfront finance. This is a game-changer for home heating and makes sustainable energy more affordable in the 1st place, while lowering bills in the longer term and helping transform the energy system."

The project has been awarded more than £1 million by the Department of Energy and Net Zero as part of the Green Homes Finance Accelerator which will bring to market a new Energy as a Service agreement to make transitioning to a heat pump and solar possible for UK households.

Benefits include:-

• Lower energy bills as heat pumps typically produce 3 to 4 times the amount of heat for every unit of electricity they take to run.
  

• Lower carbon footprint from switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump powered by on site solar panels with battery storage.
  

• 1 fixed monthly energy service fee - just like subscribing to a streaming service, broadband provider or mobile phone contract.
  

• Peace of mind from a guarantee on the system's energy performance including:- servicing, maintenance, and breakdown cover and optimisation via a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) ensuring customers' comfort levels.

The pilot will be delivered by E.ON, working with Energy Systems Catapult and Heatio and is aimed at promoting greater uptake of low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures by removing the upfront costs to consumers.

Thomas Farquhar, Co-Founder of Heatio:- "We believe this much-needed solution will motivate homeowners, who account for 40% of emissions, to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. We've seen that many homeowners are willing to invest in low-carbon technologies like solar panels and heat pumps when they see a clear path toward lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint. Now they will have an affordable and accessible way to do so."

The scheme will launch in April and give 350 households the opportunity to be the 1st to benefit. Customers who sign up will pay for their solar, battery and heat pump system, over a 20 year period through a monthly fee. Monthly payments will typically be in the order of around £150 a month, depending on the type of property.

Chris Norbury added:- "We've long argued the energy market in its current form is not designed to inspire homeowners to take their own steps towards improving their homes and helping to wean the country off our dependence on fossil fuels. We hope removing the finance barrier encourages more people to consider greener options when updating their homes by providing an affordable funding system that makes the sustainable choice the easier choice."

Alongside the service agreement, customers will benefit from an E.ON Next tariff designed to get the most from the technology and to minimise running costs. Customers will also have a guarantee on the system's energy performance as well as a management system that delivers the comfort they want while making the very best use of the technologies installed.

Health Secretary announces new women's health priorities for 2024 at landmark summit

THE Health and Social Care Secretary has named problem periods, women's health research and support for domestic and sexual abuse victims among the Government's priorities for women's health in 2024.

Speaking at the Women's Health Summit in central London to mark the 2nd year of the landmark Women's Health Strategy, Victoria Atkins said it would also prioritise improving maternity care and support for mothers who suffer birth trauma.

This follows a raft of successes over the Strategy's 1st 12 months, including reducing the cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy for nearly ½ a million women, and the rollout of specialist women's health hubs in every local health area. The Strategy also championed the creation of a new dedicated women's health section of the NHS website, providing updated information, advice and practical resources for women's health across the life course.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins said:- "We're breaking historical barriers that prevent women getting the care they need, building greater understanding of women's healthcare issues and ensuring their voices and choices are listened to. We've made huge progress; enabling almost ½ a million women access cheaper HRT, supporting women through the agony of pregnancy loss and opening new women's health hubs; but I absolutely recognise there is more to do. We're ensuring these changes benefit all women, regardless of socioeconomic background or ethnicity, because our Women's Health Strategy is only a success if it works for all women."

The 2024 priorities were developed from responses to the Government's call for evidence from over 100,000 healthcare professionals, women's health champions, members of the public and other stakeholders across the health sector. They are:

1. Better care for menstrual and gynaecological conditions; by rolling out women's health hubs, producing new guidance for healthcare professionals, continuing to improve information and support for women suffering from painful heavy periods and endometriosis, and promoting easier access to contraception - which often plays a vital role in managing menstrual problems. The Office for National Statistics will investigate the impact of period problems and endometriosis on women's participation and progress at work, improving our understanding to achieve reductions in diagnosis times.

2. Expanding women's health hubs; by delivering through our £25 million investment, the hubs will improve women's access to care, improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. We are working towards the aim of establishing 1 fully functioning hub in every local area this year, enabling better access and quality of care in services for menstrual problems, contraception, pelvic pain, menopause care and more.

3. Tackling disparities and improving support for vulnerable women including victims of sexual abuse and violence by ensuring training and support systems are working collaboratively and efficiently This will include creating new models within the NHS to protect its staff. We will focus on improving the health of women in the justice system, by implementing the recommendations set out in the National Women's Prison Health and Social Care Review.

4. Bolstering maternity care, before during and after pregnancy; by continuing to deliver on the 3 Year Delivery Plan and ensuring women understand the care they can expect from the NHS during pregnancy and after giving birth. We will also be supporting women who suffer with birth trauma and ensure both mental and physical health are prioritised. A greater focus will be placed on preconception and postnatal care for women, raising awareness of morning sickness and actioning the recommendations set out in the Pregnancy Loss Review. Through the 1st ever National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 'Challenge,' backed by £50 million, researchers, policymakers, and women will be tasked with finding new ways to tackle maternity disparities.

5. More research; a vital component to levelling up the playing field for women's health. In addition to the NIHR 'Challenge,' we are building on the £53 million invested via the NIHR programmes and will continue to improve how women are represented in medical research through its Research Inclusion Strategy.

Minister for Women's Health Maria Caulfield said:- "Helping women and girls who suffer from bad periods can make a huge difference to their lives, education and careers. And any woman who has experienced trauma after giving birth; either mentally or physically; will know the impact it can have on all aspects of her life. These are issues that impact women but they should not be seen as a 'women's problems.' It's an everyone problem. We are doing more to put these issues on the agenda and keep them there, to close the gender health gap once and for all. We've made enormous strides in the 1st year of the Strategy and I'm excited to see what 2024 will bring."

As well as announcing its new priorities, the Government announced the reappointment of Professor Dame Lesley Regan as Women's Health Ambassador for England for a further 2 years, to December 2025.

Professor Dame Lesley was appointed as the Women's Health Ambassador in 2022 and brings a raft of expertise spanning a 44-year career in women's health as a practicing clinician. She has specialised in core areas including miscarriage, period problems, gynaecological surgery, and menopause.

Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Women's Health Ambassador said:- "Our Women's Health Strategy is ambitious. It was created to ensure our healthcare system places women's health on an equal footing to men. I want women everywhere to feel confident that when seek advice from their healthcare professional, whether it's for heavy or painful periods or issues following birth, they know they are going to receive worldclass treatment. This is the ultimate goal of the Strategy, and I am delighted that we have made such positive progress in the 1st year and generated so much enthusiastic help to succeed. This coming year offers us the opportunity of taking further steps forward in delivering better healthcare outcomes for every woman in our society."

Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May, said:- "The NHS is committed to ensuring women's individual healthcare needs are met, which is why every area of England is being supported to develop a women's health hub alongside the rollout of a network of Women's Health Champions, who will use their leadership and experience to drive forward work to improve women's health. The NHS is also rolling out dedicated pelvic health clinics, and every local health system now has a specialist community perinatal mental health team and we have also made it easier to access contraception through local pharmacies. But there is clearly more to do which is why it is brilliant to see the publication of the women's health priorities for 2024."

Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:- "We are pleased to see the Government launching their 2024 priorities for the women's health strategy at our Union Street home, also the location of 15 other women's health organisations. The focus on improving care and treatment for women with gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids, which are often progressive, and have a huge impact on a woman's quality of life, is hugely welcome. We have continually called for action to improve waiting lists in gynaecology services and know that Women's Health Hubs present a real opportunity to improve women's health outcomes, and reduce inequalities in access and outcomes for women across the country. I am also glad to see that ensuring high quality care following birth trauma, an area of care which has long been a professional and personal passion of mine, has been recognised as a key focus for Government. We also want to congratulate our former President, Professor Dame Lesley Reagan, for her excellent leadership of the women's health agenda at a national level and her well-deserved reappointment as Women's Health Ambassador. As a dedicated advocate for a life course approach to women's health, we have every faith she will continue to provide excellent leadership to drive the strategy forward."

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