Tackling fuel poverty together

Fuel poverty is one of Britain’s biggest social ills. Often caused by poor insulation and old or inefficient heating, fuel poverty affects more than 3 million families in the UK.

What is fuel poverty?

Households in fuel poverty have to spend 10% or more of their income to keep their homes adequately warm.

Fuel poverty results from a combination of factors including:

• Poor energy efficiency
• Insufficient heating equipment
• Fuel costs
• Low household income
• Dwelling size

Over 3 million households in the UK are fuel poor.

(source: NEA UK Fuel Poverty Monitor 2004)

Each winter over the last 5 years, between 21,000 and 50,000 people aged 65 and over have suffered avoidable winter deaths.

(source: Help the Aged, 2004)

Treating cold related illnesses costs the NHS £1billion per year.

(source: Hunt and Boardman 1994)

How can Affordable Warmth help?

One million homes will benefit from National Grid’s Affordable Warmth Programme which works with Government and social housing providers to tackle fuel poverty by integrating sources of funding to tackle the issue in a concentrated and systematic manner.

Affordable Warmth works on a number of important fronts by:

• Delivering partnership solutions – a community based approach to eradicating fuel poverty.· Supporting the evaluation of the social and environmental benefits associated with renewables;
• Helping develop local training and employment opportunities in the delivery of local projects; and
• Developing a solution that goes far beyond simply extending the gas network and applies a ‘whole community, whole house’ partnership approach.

The benefits …..

Affordable Warmth can support housing improvement programmes and offers many benefits for landlords, tenants, local neighbourhoods and the environment.

…for homes

• Housing is improved and costs less to maintain.
• Tenants are happier and understand more about the need for energy efficiency.

…for society

• Warmer homes lead to better health.
• Affordable Warmth supports local regeneration schemes, creates sustainable jobs and supports training schemes.
• Fewer harmful emissions mean better air quality on a local, regional and global scale.

…for energy efficiency

• More efficient heating systems reduce harmful CO2 emissions.
• Better insulation and heating means warmer homes and lower bills for tenants.
• Home energy efficiency ratings are improved.
• Affordable Warmth helps local authorities meet air quality and energy efficiency targets.