2024-11-16 05:42:00
When we open the door of Maria M, 62 years old, owner of a small house of 60 m2 in Saint-Yzan-de-Soudiac in Gironde, on this cool autumn day, it is nice. And it’s a big improvement in the life of this sixty-year-old, who, like around a thousand households, has benefited every year since 2017 from Slime (local intervention service for energy management) of the Gironde department.
This system, boosted by a budgetary envelope of 1.3 million euros for 800,000 euros of revenue, is effective in Gironde since of the households which could be assessed, 40% have emerged from energy poverty. This is the case of Maria M. who moved into her small house in 2019, after a divorce: “I was happy to have my own little house but in the first winter, I was much less so…”
3,000 euros electricity bill per year
During the visits preceding her real estate purchase, she remembers that the housing seemed to be good. Once settled, with a pension of just a thousand euros, Maria M. is very careful with all her energy expenditure: she uses little hot water for her shower, does not have a dishwasher and runs his washing machine every two weeks.
It’s all the more a real cold shower when she receives her first electricity bill: 3,000 euros per year while she barely manages to reach 15 degrees at home, with an oil stove, in addition to her “toaster” radiators. “I was cold here,” she says. I put on a t-shirt, with a turtleneck, a sweater and I wrapped myself in a blanket. And when I could go to someone’s house for an evening I went there, to be warm. » This grandmother who has six grandchildren also notes that ties with her family were a little strained during this period. “We come to see if everything is okay and we leave,” she says. At 15 degrees, the little ones kept their coats on. »
“Icy cold” for two winters
Then, her social worker referred her to the Gironde department, which helped her carry out insulation work and equip herself with a pellet stove. And everything changed. Maria M. is now at home and welcomes her grandchildren, who come to have a warm breakfast after getting off the bus, before heading to the neighboring college. “I’m not even in a hurry to go to bed,” relishes the sixty-year-old, who does not forget the “freezing cold” that she had to face for two winters.
The Department estimates that around 14% of households in Gironde suffer from fuel poverty. And this is, according to him, an underestimated figure because those who underheat for the sake of economy, and who are cold at home, are not counted. “Since 2017, we have always had around a thousand households per year for which we have alerts via our network (Slime) but we would have more if we developed it,” points out Laure Curvale, vice-president for ecological transition and heritage in the Gironde department.
And there are several scenarios: the accommodation is deemed unworthy by the department’s inspection officers and it is then necessary to rehouse, small interventions (such as the replacement of a water heater or household appliances that consume too much energy) and, finally, more serious interventions linked to the national housing agency. This was the case of Maria M.
The cold undermined Maria M’s morale.
“Most of the beneficiaries (around 80%) are tenants of the private sector,” notes Laurent Vitry, energy poverty project manager at the department. And the state of the housing we see in the Slime is mostly deplorable. » To go further, the law would need to require “no longer finding housing on the market that is at the limit of decency”, warns Laure Curvale.
Not to mention that assisted households often suffer a double or triple penalty. “Regarding Maria M., we see that her energy bill represented half of her monthly income,” points out Laure Curvale. And this can be combined with health concerns, obstacles to access to employment, etc. Energy poverty has global consequences.” The cold had also begun to undermine Maria M.’s morale, and had even discouraged her from decorating her new interior. Today, brand new wallpaper covers part of the walls in her dining room. “And I haven’t put my frames on yet,” she tells us.
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#heating #degrees #grandchildren #coats #Maria
What were the most significant changes in your daily life after receiving assistance from the Slime program?
**Interview with Maria M. on Overcoming Energy Poverty in Saint-Yzan-de-Soudiac**
*Editor’s Note: Maria M., a 62-year-old resident of Saint-Yzan-de-Soudiac, has recently transformed her living conditions thanks to the Slime program from the Gironde department. We sat down with her to discuss her experiences with energy poverty and the changes in her life.*
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Maria. Can you start by telling us a bit about your situation before you joined the Slime program?
**Maria**: Of course. I moved into my small house in 2019 after going through a divorce. I was thrilled to have my own place, but that first winter was incredibly tough. My electricity bills skyrocketed to 3,000 euros a year, and I could barely keep my home warm. It was often around 15 degrees inside, and I found myself bundling up in layers just to feel some warmth.
**Editor**: That sounds incredibly challenging. How did you cope during those difficult winters?
**Maria**: Honestly, it was very isolating. I had to be very cautious with hot water, I didn’t use a washing machine more than every two weeks, and I avoided using any unnecessary power. I often visited family just to find warmth. It strained those relationships, too, since the kids had to wear their coats indoors when they visited.
**Editor**: What changed for you after being referred to the Slime program?
**Maria**: The assistance I received was life-changing. They helped me with insulation work and installed a pellet stove. Suddenly, my home became a warm place, especially during those chilly autumn and winter months. Now, my grandchildren come over in the morning for warm breakfasts, and I don’t dread the cold anymore.
**Editor**: That’s wonderful to hear! How do you feel now compared to those winters of discomfort?
**Maria**: It’s like night and day! I can entertain my family again without worry. I even take my time getting ready for bed now, which I never thought I’d be able to do. I appreciate my home so much more and feel connected again with my family.
**Editor**: What do you think about the overall issue of energy poverty in your area?
**Maria**: It’s very real and affects many people, I’m sure. Many aren’t counted because they try to save money by keeping their homes too cold. The Gironde department’s help really makes a difference, but I worry it’s only a portion of those in need.
**Editor**: Thank you for your insights, Maria. Your story is a powerful reminder of the challenges many face and the positive impact of community programs like Slime.
**Maria**: Thank you for having me. I hope sharing my story will encourage others to seek help and not suffer in silence.
