Rural Energy Hubs - Orkney Energy Survey

Thank you for taking part in 2024 update of Orkney Household Energy Survey! By completing it you will help to develop understanding of energy use, fuel poverty and decarbonisation in Orkney and have a chance to win one of three £50 Kirkwall Bid vouchers.

Five years ago a Household Energy Survey was undertaken in Orkney and created a benchmark for understanding household energy use, fuel poverty, attitudes and affordability of adopting new technology, and measuring decarbonisation in Orkney over time. There were more than 2000 responses and these were integral to the development of a number of decarbonisation projects in Orkney, along with Orkney Islands Council’s Fuel Poverty Strategy.

The 2019 survey was conducted as part of the ReFLEX Orkney project, funded by Innovate UK, who are also funding the 2024 survey that is being run this time through the Rural Energy Hubs project. The project partners Aquatera, The European Marine Energy Centre, Community Energy Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council are working to accelerate decarbonisation in rural and island communities.

Now we’re asking Orkney households to complete an updated version of the survey to gauge energy usage across the Isles, identify areas where households are potentially struggling with energy costs or need advice, and compare results from the previous survey. This data will help design programmes for decarbonisation over the next 5 years, with the aim that the survey will be repeated every 4-5 years in future.

Prize Draw – 3 x £50 Orkney Bid vouchers!

We’re hoping to repeat the fantastic response last time, with more than 20% of Orkney's households taking part. So as an incentive everyone who wants to will be entered in a draw to win one of three £50 Kirkwall Bid vouchers. Find out where the gift cards can be spent at www.townandcitygiftcards.com

To be in with a chance of winning a £50 Kirkwall Bid card make sure you enter your email address at the end of the survey and complete the survey by 1 November 2024.

How your data will be used
The data you give will be used to compare against the 2019 energy survey. The aim is for your data to show what has changed over the past 5 years. Your answers to the survey will be anonymised. If you provide your email address to entire the prize draw, this will be used solely for the draw to contact the winners and then deleted. Your email address will not be saved with your survey answers.
Data Protection and Data Sharing Statement

All data from survey responses will be anonymised. The Rural Energy Hub project partners (Aquatera, Community Energy Scotland, EMEC, SIC and OIC) will not be holding personal data such as name, e-mail address, or phone number, therefore GDPR compliance is not required. However, income and household spend on various energy products and property information is gathered. Data is being collected to help develop projects, strategy, research and policy around energy and fuel poverty. In some circumstances, your anonymised data may also be shared with other technical and expert third parties to assist with the aims of the named partners above. This will only be when necessary, and only for the specific purposes described.

Question Title

* 1. When was the dwelling you live in built?

Pre-1919

1919- 1944

1945 – 1964

1965-1982

1983-2002

Post 2002

Unknown

Question Title

* 2. On which island is your property located?

Mainland Orkney

Hoy

Flotta

Shapinsay

Westray

Rousay

Egilsay

Wyre

Stronsay

Sanday

Eday

North Ronaldsay

Papa Westray

Graemsay

Question Title

* 3. What is the building type?

Detached

Semi-detached

Terraced

Flat

Question Title

* 4. What is the tenure of your house?

Homeowner (with mortgage)

Home owner (own property outright)

Housing Association (OHAL) rented

Council rented

Private rented

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. How many people live in your household? (Please fill in the number of people in your household that fit into each of the below options.)

Total number of people

Children under 5

Children 6-11

Children 12 – 18

Adult 18 - 44

Adult 45 - 64

Adult 65+

Question Title

* 6. How many adults in your household are:

Employed

Unemployed

Self-employed

Full time parent/carer

In full time education

Retired

Question Title

* 7. What is the approximate annual gross income of the household?

Under £16,500

£16,501 – £23,000

£23,001 - £30,000

£30,001 - £35,500

£35,501 - £40, 000

£40,001 - £50, 000

£50,000 - £63,000

£63, 001 - £75,000

Over £75,000

Question Title

* 8. Does anyone in your household receive means tested benefit?

Yes

Question Title

* 9. Do you spend more than 10% of your disposable income to heat your home (after tax and mortgage)?

Yes

Question Title

* 10. Do you feel your home is hard or expensive to keep warm?

Yes

Question Title

* 11. Have you switched your electricity supplier in the last 2 years?

Yes

Question Title

* 12. Is your electricity tariff fixed for a set time or does it change when the price cap changes?

Cap

Fixed

Question Title

* 13. If you haven’t switched supplier in last 2 years, why have you not switched?

Happy with existing supplier

Already have the best price

Don’t know how to switch or find best deal

Don’t want to switch as unsure what the energy market will do over the coming months

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. How much do you spend on heat and power in your home each year (£)?

Electricity

Heating Oil

Other fuel

Question Title

* 15. What type of heating system do you have? (Please tick as many as are appropriate)

Oil

Electric boiler

Solid fuel

Storage heaters

Air-air heat pump

Air-water heat pump

Ground source heat pump

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 16. When the time comes to replace your heating system what type of heating system would you like to install?

Oil

Electric boiler

Solid fuel

Storage heaters

Air-air heat pump

Air-water heat pump

Ground source heat pump

Unsure, would need more information

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 17. Does your household have any of the below renewable technologies?

Wind turbine

Solar PV panels

Solar water heating

Electric car

Battery storage

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 18. Would you be interested in having any of the below?

Wind turbine

Solar panels

Electric car

Battery storage

Vehicle to grid charging

Insulation improvement

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 19. How many cars are there in your household?

Question Title

* 20. What is the average mileage driven per year by each car?

Car 1

Car 2

Car 3

Car 4

Other/Agricultural use vehicles

Question Title

* 21. Does your property have off-street parking and space on your property to install an electric car charger?

Yes

Question Title

* 22. How important are the following criteria in relation to installing renewable technologies at your property? Select one response for each question on the scale between 1 – 5, where 1 equates to ‘Not at all important’ and 5 equates to ‘Extremely important’.

	1	2	3	4	5
On-going cost savings	On-going cost savings 1	On-going cost savings 2	On-going cost savings 3	On-going cost savings 4	On-going cost savings 5
Earning income from the technology	Earning income from the technology 1	Earning income from the technology 2	Earning income from the technology 3	Earning income from the technology 4	Earning income from the technology 5
Environmental benefit, CO2 reduction	Environmental benefit, CO2 reduction 1	Environmental benefit, CO2 reduction 2	Environmental benefit, CO2 reduction 3	Environmental benefit, CO2 reduction 4	Environmental benefit, CO2 reduction 5
Technical aspects, smart technology	Technical aspects, smart technology 1	Technical aspects, smart technology 2	Technical aspects, smart technology 3	Technical aspects, smart technology 4	Technical aspects, smart technology 5
Increased control of energy use	Increased control of energy use 1	Increased control of energy use 2	Increased control of energy use 3	Increased control of energy use 4	Increased control of energy use 5
Security of energy supply	Security of energy supply 1	Security of energy supply 2	Security of energy supply 3	Security of energy supply 4	Security of energy supply 5
Social networks and positive peer effects	Social networks and positive peer effects 1	Social networks and positive peer effects 2	Social networks and positive peer effects 3	Social networks and positive peer effects 4	Social networks and positive peer effects 5

Question Title

* 23. How significant a barrier are the following issues to possibly prevent you from installing renewable technologies at your property? Select one response for each question on the scale between 1 – 5, where 1 equates to ‘Not at all significant’ and 5 equates to ‘Extremely significant’

	1	2	3	4	5
Finance, investment cost, long pay off time	Finance, investment cost, long pay off time 1	Finance, investment cost, long pay off time 2	Finance, investment cost, long pay off time 3	Finance, investment cost, long pay off time 4	Finance, investment cost, long pay off time 5
Running cost, perceived increase in maintenance	Running cost, perceived increase in maintenance 1	Running cost, perceived increase in maintenance 2	Running cost, perceived increase in maintenance 3	Running cost, perceived increase in maintenance 4	Running cost, perceived increase in maintenance 5
Lack of funding support	Lack of funding support 1	Lack of funding support 2	Lack of funding support 3	Lack of funding support 4	Lack of funding support 5
Uncertainty of funding incentives and regulations	Uncertainty of funding incentives and regulations 1	Uncertainty of funding incentives and regulations 2	Uncertainty of funding incentives and regulations 3	Uncertainty of funding incentives and regulations 4	Uncertainty of funding incentives and regulations 5
Hard to find certified installers with capacity	Hard to find certified installers with capacity 1	Hard to find certified installers with capacity 2	Hard to find certified installers with capacity 3	Hard to find certified installers with capacity 4	Hard to find certified installers with capacity 5
Hard to find local expert support or advice	Hard to find local expert support or advice 1	Hard to find local expert support or advice 2	Hard to find local expert support or advice 3	Hard to find local expert support or advice 4	Hard to find local expert support or advice 5
Technical flaws, technology issues	Technical flaws, technology issues 1	Technical flaws, technology issues 2	Technical flaws, technology issues 3	Technical flaws, technology issues 4	Technical flaws, technology issues 5
Aesthetic impact on property	Aesthetic impact on property 1	Aesthetic impact on property 2	Aesthetic impact on property 3	Aesthetic impact on property 4	Aesthetic impact on property 5
Satisfied with current system	Satisfied with current system 1	Satisfied with current system 2	Satisfied with current system 3	Satisfied with current system 4	Satisfied with current system 5
Negative feedback from others	Negative feedback from others 1	Negative feedback from others 2	Negative feedback from others 3	Negative feedback from others 4	Negative feedback from others 5

Question Title

* 24. Have you received funding support and insulation or heating from one of the below energy efficiency incentives?

HEEPS: ABS (Council/Warmworks)

HEEPS: WHS (Warmworks)

Energy Saving Trust loan & cashback

Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 25. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 23, were you satisfied with the service and measures installed?

Yes

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 26. In general, to what extent do you support the development of the following energy technologies in Orkney? Please tick the box for each type of technology, where 1 equates to ‘Not supportive at all’ and 5 equates to ‘Extremely supportive’

	1	2	3	4	5
Smart electricity networks	Smart electricity networks 1	Smart electricity networks 2	Smart electricity networks 3	Smart electricity networks 4	Smart electricity networks 5
Offshore wind energy	Offshore wind energy 1	Offshore wind energy 2	Offshore wind energy 3	Offshore wind energy 4	Offshore wind energy 5
Onshore wind energy	Onshore wind energy 1	Onshore wind energy 2	Onshore wind energy 3	Onshore wind energy 4	Onshore wind energy 5
Hydrogen	Hydrogen 1	Hydrogen 2	Hydrogen 3	Hydrogen 4	Hydrogen 5
Tidal Energy	Tidal Energy 1	Tidal Energy 2	Tidal Energy 3	Tidal Energy 4	Tidal Energy 5
A new electricity export cable to mainland Scotland	A new electricity export cable to mainland Scotland 1	A new electricity export cable to mainland Scotland 2	A new electricity export cable to mainland Scotland 3	A new electricity export cable to mainland Scotland 4	A new electricity export cable to mainland Scotland 5
Community renewables	Community renewables 1	Community renewables 2	Community renewables 3	Community renewables 4	Community renewables 5
Insulation upgrades	Insulation upgrades 1	Insulation upgrades 2	Insulation upgrades 3	Insulation upgrades 4	Insulation upgrades 5
Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure	Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure 1	Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure 2	Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure 3	Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure 4	Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure 5
District heating	District heating 1	District heating 2	District heating 3	District heating 4	District heating 5

Question Title

* 27. If you wish to be included in the draw to win a £50 Kirkwall Bid voucher, please enter your email address below

Email Address

Question Title

* 28. Would you consent to being contacted in the future about potentially sharing your smart meter data for research purposes? If so, please enter your email address