{"id":314817,"date":"2024-03-29T14:21:47","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T13:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=314817"},"modified":"2024-03-29T14:21:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T13:21:50","slug":"isle-of-wight-families-struggle-with-soaring-heating-costs-in-eco-friendly-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=314817","title":{"rendered":"Isle of Wight families struggle with soaring heating costs in \u2018eco-friendly\u2019 homes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Paul Homewood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\/t Patsy Lacey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAngry and frustrated\u201d parents say their young children are going cold as heating costs on an Isle of Wight housing estate skyrocket to \u2018unaffordable\u2019 rates.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents of Bluebell Meadows and St George\u2019s Gate claim they have been \u2018lied to\u2019 and feel \u2018let down\u2019, having been promised cheap bills and houses which were economical to run.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Residents faced soaring costs<\/strong>
Despite the estate using a unique biomass heating system \u2014 a centralised system which burns wood chippings to provide heat and hot water to homes \u2014 those living there say they have faced soaring costs in recent months.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those responsible for the estate \u2014 Barratt David Wilson Homes, the Isle of Wight Council and Sovereign Network Group, which together form the Pan Management Company \u2014 say the surge in prices \u201creflect the handover of the biomass centre\u201d to the estate management company.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint statement, they said they were looking at the fuel supply arrangements to try to help reduce costs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lack of proper answers
<\/strong>Residents claim there has been a lack of \u201cproper answers\u201d and a meeting for residents arranged earlier this year was cancelled.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mum-of-one, Amy, 28, is among those who have been calling for accountability.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December, she said she was \u201cmortified\u201d to see her bills more than double, from \u00a338 to \u00a3100 a month.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is only so much wrapping up in clothes and blankets you can do\u201d
<\/strong>Amy said residents were \u2018trapped\u2019 and could not switch energy providers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cLike many others on the estate, one of the main reasons I purchased a new build Barratts home was because of their unique selling point \u2013 the homes were economically efficient to run and now I can certainly say that is not true.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand bills are going up, I expected them to, but not this much. Me and my little one have been really ill this past winter and there is only so much wrapping up in clothes and blankets you can do.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another resident, Louise, says she has had to buy electric heaters for her house but still has to pay her standing charge, which like other prices, has risen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI just want to heat my house without having to worry how I would have to pay for it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Told biomass system was the \u201cmost economical choice\u201d<\/strong>
Meanwhile, resident Tina said when she moved in four years ago she was told the biomass system was the \u201cmost economical choice\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now it is \u2018just ridiculous\u2019, she said, as there is no protection for residents as Pan Energy is not regulated with Ofgem, meaning there is no price capping.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Isle of Wight families struggle with soaring heating costs in ‘eco-friendly’ homes<\/a><\/blockquote>