Fuel Poverty

Providing affordable warmth to residents is one way of improving quality of life, and will also help address Housing Corporation and Government targets for eradicating fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty occurs when a household cannot afford to heat the home to a comfortable and healthy level.  This is commonly a result of the combined effect of low household income, the cost of fuel, inadequate and expensive forms of heating and low insulation standards.

The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy commits the Government to ending fuel poverty for ?vulnerable households? by 2010.  In addition to this, the Warm Homes Act requires the elimination of fuel poverty for all households by 2015.  The Housing Corporation expects housing associations to deliver this within the sector.

Social housing contains a higher proportion of fuel-poor households than any other tenure.  Although many associations are working to improve energy efficiency and help alleviate fuel poverty, a strategic approach can improve this.

The more vulnerable people are often older people, lone parents, young children and the sick and people with disabilities.  Fuel poverty often manifests itself through cold and damp homes.

Developing an affordable-warmth strategy can assist in eradicating fuel poverty, especially in ?hard to treat? homes.  It should also link to asset management and Decent Homes strategies.  Developing a partnership approach may be needed to plan and develop action with health workers, the local authority, fuel suppliers, government, voluntary sector and the community.

The Energy Savings Trust is has developed a website dedicated to improving energy efficiency (and reducing fuel poverty) in 'hard to treat' homes. 

Associations have two roles in improving affordable warmth for their tenants.  One is through lettings policies, and the second is through improvements to thermal comfort.  Any affordable warmth strategy should include action points that seek to improve the insulation and heating systems in existing buildings to reduce fuel poverty and achieve affordable warmth.  For more information on developing an Affordable Warmth strategy action plan click here.  For general information on Affordable Warmth and Fuel Poverty click here.

Green Street addresses the role of housing associations in improving the energy efficiency of the homes, from installing energy-efficiency measures to advising and encouraging staff and residents to become more aware of energy conservation.  Please select other measures in Energy to find out what you can do.

Energy models

The energy models in Green Street provide package solutions to improving energy efficiency to meet and exceed current SDS and Building Regulations.  These can help identify the package of measures most appropriate to delivering affordable warmth.  They also identify possible cost implications of achieving the improved energy ratings, and the likely cost in use.  For more on models click here.