Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2021 begins today (Monday 22 November) and gas distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is urging households to stay vigilant of the dangers of the ‘Silent Killer’ through a set of seven simple safety steps.

With this year likely to be financially difficult for thousands of households across the North East, Yorkshire and Cumbria due to increased energy prices, the rising cost of living and the Covid-19 pandemic, many customers may put off their annual gas appliance service or take risks to stay warm in the hope of keeping bills down.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of fossil fuels, including through faulty gas appliances.

Signs of CO in the home often include dark stains on gas appliances, lazy yellow flames and condensation on windows near appliances.

Carbon monoxide can’t be seen, smelled, tasted or heard and is currently responsible for around 200 hospitalisations and 50 preventable UK death each year. Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, nausea, headache and breathlessness.

Lack of safety awareness is often the root cause of these statistics with unsafe practices in the home all increasing the risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.

As the region’s emergency response to a smell of gas or suspected carbon monoxide, NGN’s seven steps to CO safety are:

• Don’t use gas hobs and ovens to heat rooms
• Keep ventilation outlets clear and unblocked
• Don’t heat a single room for living and sleeping
• Limit cooking pans to one pan per cooker ring, rather than lighting all four burners under one large pan
• Call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999 if you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide in your home
• Buy an audible carbon monoxide alarm for your home, at a cost of around £15
• Get your gas appliances serviced annually by a qualified Gas Safe Register engineer

In addition, customers struggling with increased bills can contact their energy supplier to see if they qualify for affordable debt repayment plans or payment breaks.

If eligible, bill payers can also apply for the Warm Homes Discount Scheme, which could involve a £140 discount on their electricity bill, via their supplier.

This one-off discount is taken off the customer’s electricity bill between October and March. Contact your supplier to find out more.

And anyone living with a disability, chronic or mental health illness, or who is of pensionable age, or with children aged under 5 at home can sign up to the Priority Services Register. This free support scheme entitles them to extra help in the event of interruption to their gas or power supply.

To find out if you’re eligible, visit NGN’s Priority Services Register web page here and fill in the form.

Steve Dacre, Innovation Vulnerability Lead at Northern Gas Networks, said: “This winter is going to be financially challenging for many individuals and families across our communities and certain costs such as annual servicing may get pushed down the list of priorities.

“It’s also tempting to cut corners in ways that are unsafe, such as living and sleeping in one heated room, or heating rooms with gas cookers or ovens.

“But preventative action is absolutely critical to avoiding exposure to carbon monoxide.

“The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, nausea, breathlessness and headache, and could be mistaken for other conditions common in winter, such as flu and of course Covid-19.

“Before the winter weather really kicks in, there are several simple steps customers can take now to protect themselves and their families.

“Firstly, if you think there could be carbon monoxide in your home, call 0800 111 999 straight away. This is the free number for the National Gas Emergency Service, and an NGN gas engineer will be sent out to you. In the meantime, turn off all your gas appliances, open the windows and leave you home while you wait for the engineer to arrive.

“Secondly, book a gas safety check with a registered gas engineer. You can find one fully approved and local to you on the Gas Safety Register website, at www.gassaferegister.co.uk

“And thirdly, buy an audible carbon monoxide alarm. They are only around £15, and could save your life one day. When it’s fitted, remember to test it regularly to check that it’s working and doesn’t need a new battery.

“There is also a wealth of support out there for customers struggling with higher bills this winter. Please contact your energy supplier to talk about how they can support you with balancing your payments.”

NGN, which supplies gas to 2.7 million properties across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Cumbria, has equipped all its frontline gas engineers with hand-held devices to detect the presence of carbon monoxide as quickly as possible.

 It has also provided carbon monoxide awareness training to its partner organisations, such as Community Action Northumberland, Yorkshire Energy Doctor, Green Doctors, Lake District Foundation, Highfield CO-OP, Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University, Durham County Council, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

More information about carbon monoxide safety can be found on the NGN website

To find a registered Gas Safe engineer and book an appliance service, visit the Gas Safe Register website

Take our Carbon Monoxide Quiz! Click here to test your knowledge.

Northern Gas Networks is proud to support Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2021.

You might know carbon monoxide only as the ‘silent killer’; but this gas is also associated with a range of health complications, including low birth weight in babies, brain damage and heart disease. Many of us could be being harmed without even knowing; as carbon monoxide cannot be detected by human senses. We will be joining the All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG)’s annual campaign from 22 – 28 November 2021 to raise awareness and help consumers and the public to wise up to carbon monoxide.

Steve Dacre, Vulnerability Innovation Lead at NGN said: “This is extremely important to us because we know it’s going to be a challenging winter for many people this year, because of the rising cost of living and increasing energy bills. But we want to make sure people don’t sacrifice safety because of this, as there are several simple steps everyone can take to protect themselves against carbon monoxide.

“Firstly, get your gas appliances serviced every year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Secondly, buy an audible carbon monoxide alarm as it could save your life. Finally, if you smell gas or suspect CO poisoning call the National Gas Emergency Service number on 0800 111 999 immediately. An engineer will visit you within the hour to check your property.”

Key Messages for Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week #COAW21:

1. Carbon monoxide is not only a killer: Sub-lethal poisoning is associated with chronic health conditions
2. Symptoms of exposure + understanding COMA: Raising awareness to aid identification of potential exposures
3. Staying safe: Behaviours that increase & reduce CO risks, Gas Emergency Service number 0800 111 999

There is concern amongst MPs and engineers that the increasing costs of living will have a negative impact on many households who are struggling, as they may be unable to afford the usual upkeep and maintenance on their homes this winter. Servicing your boiler isn’t going to make it to the top of your to do list if you’re finding it difficult to put food on the table or worrying how you’re going to afford essential medication. However, this could put you at greater risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.

The All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) is leading the campaign, using the hashtag #COAW21. Barry Sheerman MP, Co-Chair of the parliamentary group says:

“I am urging everyone to understand the dangers posed by carbon monoxide. Each year in November, Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week is held to raise awareness of what you can do to stay safe and protect your family. Number one is getting your appliances serviced and investing in a carbon monoxide alarm. But if that’s not affordable for you, there are still simple things you can do to stay safe. Learn the signs that carbon monoxide could be around and save the Gas Emergency Service number 0800 111 999 on to your phone today – it could save a life!”

This year, it is more important than ever to support our communities and keep an eye for the early warning signs that something might not be safe. The All Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) has partnered with United Against CO to produce a range of awareness raising content and online tools that can be downloaded for free. Keep safe this winter – get your online tool kit today and start spreading the word about carbon monoxide!

• Winlaton, Gateshead has become first community to receive hydrogen blend via the public natural gas network
• 668 houses and a school are receiving the blend
• Residents continue to use their gas supply with no changes to appliances needed

The next phase of a ground-breaking green energy trial that could help Britain dramatically cut its carbon emissions and open the door to a low-carbon hydrogen economy has begun.

The HyDeploy project is blending hydrogen with natural gas on a public gas network in Winlaton, Gateshead operated by Northern Gas Networks.

Heating in the UK is currently responsible for a third of carbon emissions. Because hydrogen produces no carbon at the point of use, it is a viable alternative for heating homes and businesses to achieve the Government’s target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.

HyDeploy is a £22.5m Ofgem Network Innovation Competition project delivered by a consortium, including partners Northern Gas Networks, Cadent, Progressive Energy Ltd, Keele University, HSE – Science Division and ITM Power.

The first phase of HyDeploy saw 100 homes and around 30 commercial buildings on a closed network at Keele University successfully use the hydrogen blend for a period of 18 months which ended in the spring 2021.

In a ten-month long pilot, HyDeploy is now blending up to 20% of hydrogen (by volume) for 668 homes and a primary school in Winlaton.

Customers are continuing to use their gas supply and appliances as normal, without any changes needed to gas appliances or pipework as current gas appliances are designed to operate with a blend of up to 23% hydrogen.

Winlaton resident, Biba Thompson said “There has been no difference to using our gas since the hydrogen was introduced. I am the sheltered scheme officer for some housing in the pilot area and everyone here is enthusiastic about doing their bit to reverse the effects for climate change and agrees that it’s great that our small village in the North East was chosen for such a ground-breaking pilot.”

Tim Harwood, Programme Management and H21 Project Director at Northern Gas Networks, said: “We’re delighted to have started supplying blended gas at Winlaton. The project will provide more vital evidence about the possibilities of blending hydrogen into the natural gas network across the UK, as a stepping-stone to decarbonising heat with no disruption to customers’

Dr Angela Needle, Director of Strategy at Cadent said “Supplying blended hydrogen gas at Winlaton builds on the successful completion of a trial on a private gas network at Keele University. From October 2019 until March 2021 customers living in 100 homes and 30 university buildings safely received a supply of blended gas without the need to make any changes to their existing appliances.”

The HSE granted HyDeploy an exemption to the current limit of 0.1% hydrogen in the UK gas network after the project gathered extensive evidence to demonstrate the hydrogen blend will be both greener and safer than natural gas.

Fast facts

• Heating homes and industry accounts for nearly half of all energy use in the UK and one third of the country’s carbon emissions.
• If hydrogen were blended with natural gas across the UK at a similar level to HyDeploy, it could save around 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year, the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the road.
• Hydrogen was a major component in ‘town gas’, gas created from coal and used widely throughout Britain before the discovery of North Sea gas in the 1960s. Up to 60% of the gas (by volume) being used by consumers was hydrogen.
• Across Europe, permitted levels of hydrogen in the gas supply vary, from 0.1% in the UK to up to 12% in parts of the Netherlands
• Blending hydrogen is a non-disruptive way to kickstart the transition to hydrogen, allowing a significant hydrogen supply to be built up whilst not requiring any changes to domestic consumers appliances or installations.

Members of Northern Gas Networks’ Young Innovators Council have taken part in a panel discussion with industry leaders, at an event held by the Decarbonised Gas Alliance to coincide with the COP26 conference.

The panel discussion, which was held at Northern Gas Networks (NGN) innovation site at Low Thornley near Gateshead focussed on future career opportunities which could be created as part of the growth of the green economy, as the country transitions to using cleaner energy,

The panel comprised young people aged from 15 to 18 alongside Tim Harwood, Programme Management Director and Melanie Taylor, Head of Stakeholder Relations from NGN, BP’s Stuart Walker, Ivan Jepson from Gateshead College and Chris Barron representing the Decarbonised Gas Alliance.  It was facilitated by Jen Baughan, CEO of Solutions for the Plant. The panel discussed a range of topics including the new jobs which will be created through a Net Zero transition and how these jobs could be designed to attract young people. The panel explored opportunities for the next generation workforce in the North East and how the region can be at the forefront of the Government’s proposed Green Industrial Revolution.

The Young Innovators council is a group of 35 young people aged 14 to 18 years old, cocreated by NGN and Solutions for the Planets’ Youth Insights team. NGN consults the group on a range of topics to ensure the decisions made today take account of their views as the next generation of potential employees and customers.

Head of Stakeholder Relations at NGN, Melanie Taylor said “It was really inspiring to hear members of our Young Innovators Council speaking so articulately about the energy transition and to challenge us with questions on a wide range of topics from public engagement to geopolitics.”

Six members of the council attended the event. In addition to taking part in the panel discussion, the panel took a tour of the UK’s first Hydrogen Homes which are based at the site. The homes, which were built this year by NGN in partnership with fellow gas distributor Cadent and the Government, demonstrate 100% hydrogen appliances including cookers, hobs, boilers and fires.

The homes’ appliances look and operate in the same way as today’s gas appliances but, because hydrogen does not produce any carbon when burned, they are compatible with a future without carbon emissions.  The homes aim to demonstrate that people can continue to heat their homes and cook the way they do today but still tackle climate change.

Melanie Taylor continued: “It was particularly special to welcome members of our Young Innovators Council to tour the Hydrogen Home, as they helped us in the design of the homes and the visitor experience earlier in the year, so they saw first-hand how their ideas had been incorporated. They were even able cook their own lunch on the hydrogen gas hobs.”

Young Innovator Council Member Mille Sutton from Gateshead, aged 15 commented: “Being able to visit the hydrogen house and physically go into the house and cooking on hydrogen gas really helps put into perspective that using hydrogen as a form of gas is achievable and can be easily integrated into our lives.  The experience of seeing a house fully powered by hydrogen was amazing and provided me with true hope that one day we can reach net zero by this gas conversion.”

Joshua Hickson from Hexham, also aged 15 added: “Through the Young Innovators Council it has been amazing to see how hydrogen may be the future of our homes in Britain. It has been absolutely fascinating learning about what Northern Gas Networks is doing, but simply seeing the Hydrogen House in person made me realise that it isn’t just a concept but in fact the future of energy lies in hydrogen, across not only the UK but possibly the entire globe. To see the Hydrogen Home in action along with being the first members of the public to cook on hydrogen appliances was truly inspiring. Being able to see the Hydrogen Home in person truly does give me hope that in the near future, we will tackle climate change, once and for all.”

Young innovator council members outside the Hydrogen Home. Pictured left to right  – Taylor Leyland-Dennett, Kaitlin Smith, Ellie Cook, Joshua Hickson, Imogen Stout and Millie Sutton

Hydrogen Home Liaison Officer Alexandra Brightman showing young innovators the 100% hydrogen hob

Engineers from Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the North of England’s gas distributor, are carrying out emergency repairs to the gas network after a gas escape was located on Felling Bypass in Gateshead, heading towards Newcastle City Centre.

Due to the location of the gas main in the highway, lane one of the westbound carriageway will be closed until further notice while the repairs take place.

Michael Brown, Site manager at Northern Gas Networks, said: “The safety of our customers and engineers is our number one priority.

“Closing the lane is essential in ensuring the public and our workforce stay safe at all times as we work to carry this repair out as quickly as possible.

“We would like to thank customers for their patience at this time and apologise for any inconvenience experienced. We will keep businesses and road users updated throughout the work.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care Team on 0800 040 7766 or email: customercare@northerngas.co.uk.

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.