Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2017€¦ · Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995 and the associated guidance which was published on 4 th January 2017 2. Energy Saving

Energy Saving Trust – HECA Progress Report - 2017 page 1 of 33

Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2017

City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council


Document information

Full Title

Responsible author(s): Aled Stephens

Insight Analyst, Consulting, Energy Saving Trust

phone: 020 7222 0101

email: [email protected]

Reviewer(s): Karen Strandoo

Local Authority Consultant, Energy Saving Trust

phone: 07961 272214

email: [email protected]

The Energy Saving Trust has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this

report is full and accurate. However to the extent permitted by applicable laws, the Energy Saving Trust

accepts no liability for any direct, indirect or consequential damages however caused, resulting from

reliance on, or any use of the information contained in this report.


Contents 1 Progress to date ................................................................................................................................... 4

1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4

1.2 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 5

1.3 Introduction to HECA ..................................................................................................................... 7

1.4 Climate Change and CO2 Emissions ............................................................................................. 8

1.5 Fuel Poverty ................................................................................................................................. 10

1.6 Energy Company Obligation ........................................................................................................ 11

1.7 Housing Stock .............................................................................................................................. 13

2 Local energy efficiency ambitions and priorities ................................................................................. 23

2.1 Energy efficiency advice and data ............................................................................................... 23

2.2 Energy prices ............................................................................................................................... 24

2.3 Housing energy efficiency improvements .................................................................................... 25

2.4 Fuel poverty initiatives .................................................................................................................. 29

3 Central Government initiatives ............................................................................................................ 29

3.1 Energy Company Obligation (ECO) ............................................................................................. 32

3.2 Smart meters................................................................................................................................ 32

3.3 Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards ........................................................................................ 33


1 Progress to date

1.1 Introduction

This document summarises the progress made by Wakefield Council in relation to the Home Energy

Conservation Act1. The Energy Saving Trust has prepared this progress report in accordance with the

Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995 and the associated guidance which was published on 4th

January 20172.

Energy Saving Trust is a leading energy efficiency research and advice consultancy which has been at

the forefront of the delivery of energy efficiency policy in the UK for the last 25 years. Our experience of

working in the building, energy efficiency, technology and wider climate change sectors means we have

the technical, research and economic experience required to deliver successful, energy efficiency

strategies, policies and projects. We have an innovative range of services which local authorities,

Registered Providers of social housing, businesses and other organisations use to benefit their

residents, tenants, employees and customers. In particular, we are highly experienced in delivering

reports for local authorities to meet Governmental regulations, and have delivered a number of HECA

progress reports both for 2017 and in previous years. We remain independent and we will continue to

provide impartial advice based on sound evidence and expertise.

1 Home Energy Conservation Act. HM Government, 1995

2 Guidance to English Energy Conservation Authorities: the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995. BEIS 2017


1.2 Summary

Wakefield Council has for the last 15 years been very active in residential energy efficiency due to the

central government incentives that provided the resources required; this activity is detailed in previous

HECA reports. The Council also had good partnerships and affordable warmth strategies in place.

However, in recent years there have been fewer resources available to Wakefield Council, mainly due to

changes in the Government’s Energy Supplier obligation policy, to invest in energy efficiency of

residential housing and this is reflected in the type of activity delivered. There has been a shift away from

larger, district-wide schemes towards smaller initiatives strategically targeted at the fuel poor and the

worst properties. This situation is similar across the country.

The Council have formed a robust evidence base with which to help plan projects and inform schemes

and funding bids. These include:

• UNO Home Energy Efficiency Stock Database which contains property data from 41,000 EPC

records and data on over 30,000 Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) properties. The Council

intend to maintain and improve the accuracy of the database in the coming years to maximise its

usefulness.

• Energy Saving Trust and Building Research Establishment (BRE) research into fuel poverty in

Wakefield performed in 2014 and 2016 respectively. This research provides an understanding of

the demographics and geographical areas that would most benefit from energy efficiency

schemes through the use of fuel poverty, energy efficiency standard and cold home hazard data.

The Council continues to offer a number of incentives to improve the energy efficiency of the housing

stock and target the most vulnerable residents, and aim to develop new initiatives over the coming

years. Some key actions are listed below, with the full list being detailed in Section 2 and Section 3 of

this report:

• Delivering an Energy Supplier Obligation (ECO) funded programme over the next 6 years,

through Better Homes Wakefield (Better Homes Yorkshire (BHY)) to provide insulation and

heating improvements across Wakefield;

• Delivering two Local Growth Fund (LGF) home energy efficiency schemes; the Castleford

external wall insulation scheme and the Fuel Poverty Fund essential heating scheme;

• Exploring partnership options to set up a Council Energy Service Company (ESCo), which will

provide residents with lower prices for their gas and electricity and other benefits;

• Exploring the development of joint schemes in partnership with WDH and other Registered

Providers to provide home energy efficiency improvements to private and tenanted properties;


• Developed the Affordable Warmth Charter which recognises and encourages organisations and

services that deliver activity to reduce fuel poverty and help residents achieve affordable warmth;

• Developing a more comprehensive package approach to tackling fuel poverty that helps

residents access unclaimed benefits and cheaper fuel, better manage and increase their income

alongside energy efficiency improvements;

• Continuing to provide interest free Energy Saver Loans to residents to help fund home energy

efficiency and heating improvements;

• Develop a private rented property energy efficient offer of that includes extending the current

Energy Savers Loan to private landlords.


1.3 Introduction to HECA

The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) requires local authorities to improve the energy

efficiency of all residential accommodation in their areas.

Authorities are expected to consider practical and cost-effective measures that will bring about a

significant improvement in the energy efficiency of all types of housing in their areas. The original aim

was to achieve a 30% improvement in energy efficiency over 10 years, but this was later extended to 15

years.

From 1997, English authorities were required to submit annual reports showing their progress towards

achieving the 30% target. The 12th annual report was produced in 2008 and then the requirement

ceased.

Following the introduction of new guidance in 2017, which replaces the previous guidance dated 2012,

the legal requirement remains for Councils to improve home energy efficiency, and to report on

progress. The aim is to make continuous improvements to home energy efficiency to 2027, and Councils

are required to publish further reports and action plans every two years which set out the energy

conservation measures that the authority considers practicable, cost-effective and likely to result in

significant improvement in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in its area. Reports are

required to outline issues such as the local authority’s local energy efficiency ambitions and priorities and

the steps that the local authority will be taking that take advantage of financial assistance and other

benefits offered from central Government initiatives. All the Home Energy Conservation Act reports must

be published online, with a link forwarded to the Secretary of State on or before the required date.


1.4 Climate change and CO2 emissions

The Climate Change Act 2008 sets a legally binding national target to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by

2050 compared to 1990 levels.

The Act requires the Committee on Climate Change to recommend a series of five-year carbon budgets

leading to the 2050 target. In June 2016 the Government accepted the Committee’s recommendation for

the 5th budget: a limit of 1,765 MtCO2e over the years 2028-2032, equivalent to an emissions cut of 57%

on 1990 levels by 2030.

The Government has stated that local authorities are expected to play a major role in meeting these

targets through the management of their buildings and vehicle fleets, and in how they influence

householders, businesses and transportation in the wider community.

Figure 1 shows the total annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from domestic properties in Wakefield

as calculated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for 2005 to 2014. These

are the most recent figures available. The Council has had a plan in place to reduce its own carbon

emissions from the delivery of services and its buildings, called the Carbon Management Plan. This Plan

achieved its carbon reduction target ahead of schedule by recording a 21.55% reduction in emissions for

the 2015-16 year (based on a 2008-09 baseline) against a target of 17.70% by 2020. The Council, as a

result, has reviewed its corporate carbon management approach to explore how this could focus more

on the major energy reduction projects and have more of an outward focus, engaging with partners and

businesses going forward. A new Council Energy Plan with a long term target of reducing corporate

carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 will be launched in summer 2017.

Considering the previous 2 years, the figures show that despite a small population increase

(approximately 1%) the total domestic emissions have reduced by 125kt CO2 (18%) since 2012.

Similarly, per capita domestic emissions have reduced from 2.1 tonnes to 1.7 tonnes per person (19%).


Figure 1: Domestic emissions for Wakefield, 2005 to 2014, with 2020 projection

Should the current trend in emissions reduction continue at a similar rate, the projected total domestic

emissions in 2020 would be 490kt CO2 in 2020. However it cannot be assumed that the current rate of

improvement will be maintained; simple measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation have been

installed in the many homes, and whilst there is still potential for these basic energy efficiency measures

they are becoming more difficult to find. There is also the challenge of the harder to treat housing stock

still remaining. On-going improvement will therefore require measures with higher capital costs such as

solid wall insulation and renewable energy technologies. The Council’s capacity to carry out measures to

improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock depends on the availability of resources and funding.

Additionally, changes in energy consumption can change due to a number of factors, including energy

cost changes, changes in economic activity, and seasonal temperature changes, with each of these

being outside of the Council’s control.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

CO

2 E

mis

sio

ns

(ktC

O2

)

Year

Total Domestic Emissions

Total Domestic Emissions Projected Linear Emissions


1.5 Fuel poverty

Fuel poverty in England is measured by the Low Income High Costs (LIHC) definition, which considers a

household to be in fuel poverty if:

• They have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level); and

• Were they to spend that amount they would be left with a residual income below the official

poverty line.

This is different to the previous definition prior to 2013 (which was based on if a household needed to

spent 10% or more of their income on fuel to maintain an adequate level of heat) so consequently it is

not possible to compare earlier statistics prepared using the different definitions.

The latest figures from the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), published in

June 2016, show that there are an estimated 15,000 households in Wakefield that are considered to be

in fuel poverty. This equates to 10% of total households, which is similar to the national average.

Figure 2 shows a spatial analysis of the fuel poverty rates in each LSOA (Lower Layer Super Output

Area) in Wakefield. The figure is taken from Energy Saving Trust’s Home Analytics database. The darker

red areas indicate higher rates of fuel poverty; these are the areas in which schemes could be targeted.


Figure 2: Fuel poverty by LSOA

1.6 Energy Company Obligation

In January 2017 BEIS published its response to its Energy Company Obligation: Help to heat

consultation3. As proposed in the consultation, the scheme is moving to focus much more on fuel

poverty. The Affordable Warmth Obligation (officially known as Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation

– HHCRO) will now make up 70% of the scheme’s budget and the Carbon Emissions Reduction

Obligation (CERO) will make up the remaining 30%. The ECO transition period will run from 1 April 2017

until September 2018 and around £960m will be spent on energy efficiency over that period.

Some of the biggest changes compared to the previous scheme include:

• The increased focus on fuel poverty;

• The greater role for local authorities – they will now be able to determine eligibility for part of the

affordable warmth component (more details below);

• The scheme being opened up to poorly insulated social housing properties.

3 Energy Company Obligation (ECO): Help to heat consultation – government response. BEIS, 2017.


• A relaxing of the eligibility criteria.

1.6.1 Main considerations for local authorities

There are a number of inclusions in the Government’s decision on ECO that impact local authorities and

grant a greater role for their involvement in the scheme. Local authorities will be able to determine

eligibility for up to 10% of the Affordable Warmth component of ECO (which will make up 70% of ECO).

Social housing properties rated at Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) E, F and G will be eligible to

receive measures under ECO Affordable Warmth (although not heating system replacements/repairs)

and local authorities will be able to determine non-fuel poor households as eligible for solid wall

insulation, where this forms part of a project that delivers solid wall insulation to fuel poor, or low income

and vulnerable households.

1.6.2 Flexible eligibility and local authority declarations

Local authorities will now be able to determine eligible homes under the new ‘flexible eligibility’

mechanism. This is primarily aimed at targeting fuel poor households not in receipt of the eligible

benefits and low income households that are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home. This will

be a voluntary mechanism that suppliers can use to meet up to 10% of their Affordable Warmth

Obligation. Under this mechanism local authorities would be required to:

1. Publish a ‘statement of intent’ detailing the methodology and criteria they intend to use to identify

eligible customers, before they can provide a declaration to suppliers;

2. Issue a declaration to energy suppliers stating that they had determined a household, or a

number of households, as eligible under ECO Affordable Warmth and the reasons for

determining them as eligible.

The Government has limited it to 10% of AW and intends to monitor quite closely how it is working,

including requiring local authorities to produce annual reports on their use of flexible eligibility, collect

and maintain evidence on their targeting processes, and participate in the evaluation.

Guidance has been published in early 2017 on whom local authorities should be targeting and the

criteria, information to include in declarations, statements of intent and annual reports. The Council

published their ‘statement of intent’ in the summer of 2017, which identifies the criteria and priority fuel

poverty areas for targeting ECO AW. An ECO AW ECO has been issued to provide additional funding as

part of the Castleford External Wall Insulation Scheme.

Social housing properties (other than those rated EPC E, F and G – see below) will not be eligible for

flexible eligibility.

1.6.3 Solid wall insulation for non-fuel poor households

Under flexible eligibility, local authorities will be able to determine non-fuel poor households as eligible

for AW in order to facilitate the installation of solid wall insulation, where this forms part of a project that


delivers solid wall insulation to fuel poor, or low income and vulnerable households. The in-filling

provision is to make it easier to install solid wall insulation in fuel poor private tenure homes. The in-filling

will only apply to solid wall insulation and will apply in the following circumstances:

• In private tenure flats, maisonettes, terraces or detached properties next door to each other, as

long as at least two thirds of households in any individual project are declared fuel poor, or low

income and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home (as per local authority declarations

above), by the local authority;

• In the case of a pair of semi-detached properties, or in the case of a single building that contains

two flats, at least one of the pair must be occupied by a household in fuel poverty or on a low

income and vulnerable to the cold.

1.6.4 EPC E, F and G rated social housing properties eligible under affordable warmth

Social housing properties rated E, F and G will be eligible under AW and will not be subject to any of the

other eligibility requirements (i.e. being in receipt of eligible benefits). Insulation measures and first time

central heating (including renewable heat) or first time district heating will be eligible measures. Boiler

and other heating system replacements or repairs (of any fuel type) will not be eligible.

1.7 Housing stock

The following section shows current information on the housing stock in the local authority area. Figures

are from Energy Saving Trust’s Home Analytics database which uses a combination of historical energy

efficiency installation records along with statistical and geo-spatial models to provide an accurate profile

of the housing stock in Great Britain.

Home Analytics is unique because of the quality of the data that underpins it and the advanced

modelling processes used to predict accurate property attributes and energy efficiency information at the

address level. This data will help the authority develop strategic, evidence-based planning and market

assessment when considering energy efficiency improvements.

Home Analytics models are calibrated wherever possible to verify published sources of data such as the

UK Census and national housing surveys. As well as actual data the Home Analytics database includes

statistically modelled values and should therefore be treated as a guide rather than an absolute view of

the entire housing stock.


1.7.1 Property type

There are approximately 147,000 households in Wakefield4. The largest housing type in Wakefield is

semi-detached houses, these account for 42% of Wakefield’s housing stock; this is 15% more than the

national average. Both detached and semi-detached houses are generally bigger than other property

types and therefore can be more expensive to retrofit. However they generally have more space around

them making them the most suitable house types for ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers.

Figure 3: Property types, comparison with national average

4 DCLG Household Projections for 2017

23%

27%

21%

29%

18%

42%

18%

22%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Detached Houses Semi Detached Houses Flats Terraced Houses

% o

f p

rop

ert

ies

Type

Property types

National Average Wakefield


1.7.2 Property tenure

Wakefield has a slightly higher proportion of owner occupied properties than the national average, and a

slightly lower proportion of privately rented properties. However there has recently been a growth in the

private rented sector driven by economic growth, particularly in the south east of Wakefield.

Owner occupied properties have fewer stakeholders involved in the decision to make energy efficiency

improvements, compared to rented properties, and can therefore be a relatively easy demographic for

targeting improvements towards and offering financial assistance (e.g. homeowner loans).

The Council transferred ownership of all local authority properties to the housing association WDH in

2005. WDH and the Council work in partnership to deliver joint home energy efficiency and fuel poverty

initiatives from time to time when funding becomes available.

Housing association properties can be suitable for mass roll-outs of energy efficiency improvements

given the high level of control that the housing associations have over their properties. These

improvements can provide economies of scale and significant improvements to the overall energy

efficiency of housing in the authority.

Figure 4: Property tenure, comparison with national average

64%

18%

10% 9%

66%

11%

0%

22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Owner Occupied Privately Rented Local Authority Housing Association

% o

f p

rop

ert

ies

Tenure

Property Tenure



Table 1: Property tenure, private and social housing

Primary Tenure Secondary Tenure Proportion (%)

Private Owner Occupied 66%

Privately Rented 11%

Social Local Authority 0%

Housing Association 22%

1.7.3 Property age

Wakefield has significantly more properties constructed between 1967-1982 than the national average.

Properties constructed after 1950 generally have cavity wall construction. They are less likely to have

period features than older properties, which can make energy efficiency retrofits more cost-effective than

with older properties.

Figure 5: Property age, comparison with national average

Table 2: Property age

Property Age Proportion (%)

Pre-1900 5%

1900-1949 28%

1950-1966 20%

1967-1982 31%

Post-1982 16%

12%

26%

22%21% 21%

5%

28%

20%

31%

16%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Pre-1900 1900-1949 1950-1966 1967-1982 Post-1982

% o

f p

rop

ert

ies

Age

Property Age



1.7.4 Fuel Type

Approximately 95% of Wakefield’s properties are on the mains gas network. Mains gas is a relatively low

carbon and inexpensive fuel. Modern condensing boilers provide high efficiency and low running costs.

Only a small proportion (approximately 3.6%) of the housing stock uses electricity as its main space

heating type. Electric heating is generally the most expensive form of heating and is currently a very

carbon intensive fuel. There is the potential for installing heat pumps and other innovative alternative

solutions in these properties to improve the efficiency of electric heating systems.

Table 3: Fuel type

Fuel Type Proportion (%)

Gas 95.0%

Electric 3.6%

Oil 0.3%

LPG 0.2%

Solid Fuel 0.9%


1.7.5 Loft insulation

Loft insulation is a relatively cheap measure that can provide significant energy bill savings, reducing

levels of fuel poverty and carbon emissions. Although the majority (77%) of properties have good levels

of loft insulation (over 151mm) which is higher than the national average, there is the potential for a loft

insulation scheme to improve levels of loft insulation in the properties that have low levels of insulation.

However, these schemes can have diminishing economic returns as the remaining properties are

generally harder to treat.

Figure 6: Levels of loft insulation, comparison with national average

Table 4: Levels of loft insulation

Loft Insulation

Thickness

Proportion (%)

No Loft 6%

0-50mm 5%

51-150mm 11%

151mm+ 77%

12%

4%

23%

61%

6% 5%

11%

77%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

No Loft 0-50mm 51-150mm 151mm+

% o

f p

rop

ert

ies

Level of insulation

Loft Insulation



Figure 7 shows a spatial analysis of the proportion of properties with good levels of loft insulation (over

150mm) in Wakefield. The figure is taken from Energy Saving Trust’s Home Analytics database. The

darker red areas indicate areas with lower amounts of insulation and these are the areas where loft

insulation schemes could be targeted.

Figure 7: Loft insulation by LSOA


1.7.6 Wall insulation

Around 81% of Wakefield’s domestic housing stock is of cavity wall construction, which is around 10%

more than the national average.

Around 19% of properties in Wakefield are of solid wall construction, which is less than the national

average. The vast majority of solid wall properties in Wakefield are uninsulated. Although solid wall

properties are more expensive to insulate than cavity walls, it can provide significant heating bill savings

and carbon reduction.

Figure 8: Wall type and insulation

Figure 8 shows the breakdown of wall types and the proportion of properties with insulated cavities.

Approximately three quarters of the cavity wall properties are insulated (76%), leaving just a quarter of

cavity walls that are uninsulated. Compared to solid wall insulation, cavity wall insulation is a relatively

inexpensive and easy measure to install. However, some of the remaining cavity wall properties will

include harder to treat cavity wall properties which are more expensive to treat.

19%62%

19%

81%

Wall Type

Solid Cavity Insulated Cavity Uninsulated


Figure 9: Wall types and insulation, comparison with national average

Figure 10 shows a spatial analysis of the proportion of properties with insulated walls in Wakefield. The figure is taken from Energy Saving Trust’s Home Analytics database. The darker red areas indicate areas with lower amounts of insulation. These are the areas in which cavity wall insulation schemes could be targeted.

51%

20%

1%

28%

62%

19%

1%

18%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Cavity Insulated Cavity Uninsulated Solid Insulated Solid Uninsulated

% o

f p

rop

ert

ies

Level of insulation

Wall Insulation



Figure 10: Wall insulation by LSOA


2 Local energy efficiency ambitions and priorities

2.1 Energy efficiency advice and data

2.1.1 Energy Advice

Service

The Council, since 2002, has had a team of Home Energy Officers in place who provide free, high quality

and impartial energy advice to all Wakefield residents. This service is accessible via a telephone hotline

and email, and energy advice and information is also provided through the Council website.

On-going

2.1.2 Community

awareness

raising and

promotions

The Council engages with residents in the community to raise awareness of energy efficiency and fuel

poverty. This is performed through attendance at events (some of these using a dedicated energy advice

van) and through presentations to community groups and forums. At these promotions the Council gives

out energy advice literature and free energy saving equipment e.g. low energy light bulbs and energy

saving plugs.

On-going

2.1.3 UNO Home

Energy Stock

Database

The Council use the UNO home energy stock database that includes property data from 41,000 EPC

records, stock data for over 31,000 WDH properties and large numbers of grant improvement data.

The database, which is accessible to housing and energy professionals within the Council, can be used to

analyse the energy performance of housing stock and provides a useful resource to plan projects and

inform schemes and funding bids. The Council plan to improve the database with better quality data going

forward to maximise its usefulness.

On-going


2.2 Energy prices

2.2.1 Collective

energy

switching

In 2013 the Council, working in partnership with other Leeds City Region local authorities, secured funding

through the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) (now part of BEIS), ‘Cheaper Energy

Together’ fund to develop and deliver a collective energy switching scheme. The scheme generated over

1,000 expressions of interest from residents in the Wakefield district and these were all given assistance to

switch to cheaper energy deals.

Through the Council’s Energy Advice Service residents are given advice on how to switch energy suppliers

and enquiries are signposted to the Citizens Advice energy switching service.

2013 -

onwards

2.2.2 Energy

Services

Company

(ESCo)

The Council is currently exploring its options to set up an Energy Services Company (ESCo) in 2018 to

offer to residents lower tariffs for their gas and electricity as well as other benefits. The key benefits of an

ESCo are that it provides consistently competitive energy prices and transparent tariff structures to all

customers, whether they are on credit accounts and pre-payment meters. The Council aim to have an

ESCo offer in place for its residents in 2018.

The Council is also interested in an innovative and scalable ESCo business model that allows commercial

tariffs to be offered to local businesses as part of a Business Energy Advice Service. The Council will

explore how these may be provided through an ESCo arrangement.

2017-

onwards

2.2.3 Energy

vouchers for

pre-payment

meter

customers

The Council is working in partnership with Wakefield District Community Foundation to extend the

Council’s current emergency fuel voucher scheme to more householders by providing additional funding

for the Council’s existing fuel voucher scheme. The aim of the scheme is to alleviate fuel poverty by

assisting vulnerable householders who are on pre-payment meters in need of emergency short term

support with their fuel bills. This was launched ready for winter 2017-18 and will run until existing funding is

exhausted.

2017-

onwards


2.3 Housing energy efficiency improvements

2.3.1 Green Deal

Communities

Fund

The Council, in 2014, secured £355,000 in grant funding through the DECC Green Deal Communities

Fund to assist with the installation of external wall insulation. The funding was combined with customer

contributions and ECO funding to install external wall insulation on 46 hard-to-treat terraced properties in

the Agbrigg and Belle Vue area of Wakefield. This area was targeted due to the high levels of deprivation

and fuel poverty coupled with poor home energy efficiency standards. The insulation scheme, which

completed in 2016, was delivered via an area based street-by-street approach in order to achieve

maximum impact in the target area.

The Council has aspirations to deliver similar schemes as and when funding is identified and one such

scheme is the Castleford External Wall Insulation Scheme that commenced in late 2017 and will complete

in 2018.

2014-2016

2.3.2 DECC Fuel

Poverty Fund

The Council secured £1.1m in grant funding from the DECC Fuel Poverty Fund in 2012 to fund an external

wall insulation scheme in partnership with WDH. 31 private properties and over 100 WDH properties,

located in three housing estates, identified for having high levels of fuel poverty and system build

properties (notorious for their poor energy efficiency standards), benefitted from free or substantially

discounted external wall insulation.

The Council aim to work with WDH to develop new schemes in the future as and when funding is

identified, to provide external wall insulation and other energy efficiency measures to both private and

social properties.

2017-18

2.3.3 Castleford

External Wall

Insulation

Scheme

The Council secured £900k in December 2016 through the Local Growth Fund (LGF) to deliver a

programme of external wall insulation and heating, to be installed through Better Home Yorkshire, targeted

at hard-to-treat private properties with high levels of fuel poverty in Castleford. The target is to assist 76

properties with over 100 external wall insulation and other energy efficiency measures.

This Scheme commenced in late 2017 and will progress and complete in 2018.

2017-18


2.3.4 Fuel Poverty

Fund

The Council has since 2013 had in place a Fuel Poverty Fund that provides essential heating repairs and

improvements for the vulnerable and those in urgent need. In late 2016 an additional £88,000 was secured

through the LGF alongside £20,000 Council funding to deliver this Scheme during 2017-18. This Scheme

commenced in late 2017 and will close in March 2018. The target is to assist 25 properties essential

heating work and the installation work will be performed through BHY.

2017-18

2.3.5 Central

Heating Fund

The Council secured £140,400 in grant funding from the DECC Central Heating Fund in 2015, which was

combined with £85,000 Council funding to help vulnerable households install new, clean and efficient

heating systems. The funding was used to switch existing solid or electric heating systems to gas, or for

installing the ‘first time’ central heating systems. The Scheme finished in 2016 and assisted 36 households.

2015-16

2.3.6 Innovative

Heating Fund

The Council, in partnership with WDH, in late 2015 secured £258,000 in grant funding from National

Energy Action (NEA) through the Innovative Heating Fund to install innovative heating system solutions in

owner occupied and WDH properties. This NEA funding was matched with £42,000 Council funding. The

Scheme helped 48 households (16 private and 32 WDH properties) install new innovative heating systems.

The innovative heating systems installed included photo-voltaic solar panels, solar thermal water heating,

air source heat pumps and infra-red heaters. The systems are being monitored as part of a research

project performed by NEA to evaluate their effectiveness and the outcomes will be used to inform future

heating installation programmes.

2015-17


2.3.7 Better Homes

Wakefield

(Better Homes

Yorkshire)

The Council joined the Leeds City Region (LCR) Better Homes Yorkshire (BHY) scheme in January 2017,

which is a partnership between the 10 LCR local authorities. In Wakefield BHY will be branded Better

Homes Wakefield.

BHY provides a framework for local authorities to call-off to deliver home energy efficiency work in their

areas. BHY provides easy access to insulation, boilers, and renewable energy installation services, making

the delivery of home energy efficiency scheme more streamlined. BHY has targets for employing local

labour, apprentices and using local supply chains so provides local growth and economy benefits as well.

This long term arrangement (up to 2022) enables the Council to use the Scheme to deliver ECO funded

energy efficiency work.

During 2017-18 BHY will focus on delivering ECO funded boiler replacements for the private sector able-

to-pay market. The Council has commenced a marketing campaign in 2017 aimed at encouraging

residents to access this ECO boiler offer through BHY.

The Council is exploring the potential to deliver an ECO funded loft and cavity wall insulation scheme

through BHY in 2018.

2017-22


2.3.8 Interest free

loans

The Council aims to help fuel poor and vulnerable households to install home energy efficiency

improvements and as part of this commitment the Council has, since 2011, provided the Energy Savers

interest free loan. The loan provides funding of up to £7,000 repayable over five years via Leeds City

Credit Union to the elderly and those on low incomes.

The Energy Savers loans are currently only available to owner-occupiers yet the private sector stock

condition survey research, performed by BRE in 2016, shows that it is the private rented sector has higher

rates of fuel poverty, cold home hazards and low income households. To help addresses this the Council

will make changes to the Energy Savers loan to make them available to private landlords during 2018. The

loans will be provided as part of a new private rented sector energy efficiency offer being developed during

2018.

The Council in late 2017 signed-up to the Regional Repayment Energy Loan scheme, which provides an

additional interest free loan product that residents can access to help with the cost of making energy

efficiency improvements to their home.

2011 -

onwards


2.4 Fuel poverty initiatives

2.4.1 Fuel Poverty

Package

The traditional approach to tackling fuel poverty has been to deliver a ‘fabric first’ approach and focus on

improving home energy efficiency. Research tells us that that this is still effective; however there are other

factors that affect fuel poverty and to explore this Council performed a review if its fuel poverty work in late

2017.

The outcome of this review was that a more comprehensive package of measures including assistance to

help residents increase incomes, access unclaimed benefits, effective money and debt management and

accessing cheaper energy tariffs would be a more effective strategy to tackle fuel poverty. This finding is in

line with research that shows that Wakefield has a significant level of low income households suggesting

income is a key driver for local fuel poverty.

This new package approach will be trialled by the Council, primarily targeted at priority fuel poverty areas,

starting in April 2018 with an evaluation after 12 months.

2018-2019

2.4.2 Wakefield

Affordable

Warmth

Charter

Launched in October 2016, the Charter is a new, innovative approach, developed by the Council, to drive

activity to tackle fuel poverty and achieve affordable warmth across the Wakefield district. The Charter is

Wakefield’s third strategy to address fuel poverty and follows on from the ‘Wakefield Affordable Warmth

Strategy 2007-2010’ and the ‘Wakefield Affordable Warmth Action Plan 2011-16’.

The ‘Wakefield Affordable Warmth Charter’ recognises services and organisations that have a role to play

to reduce fuel poverty. Even the smallest action counts and the Charter encourages joint commitment and

collective action to tackle fuel poverty. The Affordable Warmth Charter Mark is awarded to recognise

services and organisations in Wakefield that are helping to tackle fuel poverty.

To date 22 organisations have signed-up to the Charter and during 2017-18 the Council will be promoting it

to partners and businesses to encourage many more organisations to sign-up.

2016 -

onwards


2.4.3 Wakefield

Affordable

Warmth

Partnership

The Wakefield Affordable Warmth Partnership (WAWP) is an on-going long running multi-agency group,

started in 2002, that provides valuable networking between stakeholders and informs fuel poverty and

home energy initiatives projects and policy. The Group oversees the Wakefield Affordable Warmth Charter

and had a similar role with the ‘Wakefield Affordable Warmth Strategy 2007-10’ and the ‘Wakefield

Affordable Warmth Action Plan 2011-16’.

WAWP membership includes over 25 stakeholders from a cross-section of partners (internal and external)

including planning, utility companies, health and social services, registered social landlords, the fire service

and the voluntary and community sectors. Organisations and services that sign up to the Charter are

invited to join the WAWP.

2002 -

onwards

2.4.4 Fuel poverty

research

The Council has carried out three detailed studies to analyse fuel poverty and home energy efficiency

standards in the Wakefield district. The first of these was in 2007 when the Council commissioned a fuel

poverty study by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, which informed the Council’s first Affordable Warmth

Strategy 2007-2010. In 2014 the Energy Saving Trust5 performed a cross tenure (private and WDH) fuel

poverty study including cost benefit analysis of fuel poverty improvements.

In 2016 the BRE completed a private sector stock condition survey including fuel poverty and cold home

hazard health impact analysis6. The Council are using, and will continue to use, the information from the

BRE study as a robust evidence base to inform new project development work, funding bids and develop

new policy.

2007-2016

5 Wakefield Fuel Poverty Study Final Report. EST, 2014

6 A Quantitative Health Impact Assessment: The cost of private sector housing and prospective housing interventions in Wakefield Council. BRE, 2016


2.4.5 Health and

Housing

Initiatives

The Council developed a referral pathway scheme in 2005 called Hot Spots, which went on to win both

regional and national NEA awards for best practice. Hotspots enabled frontline workers to refer residents

for energy, fire safety and benefit check advice and it generated over 13,000 referrals between 2005-2013.

The Council recognises the value of this type of referral pathway for fuel poverty and other housing issues.

As funding has become available, similar referral pathway projects have been developed with health and

community sector partners in recent years. These include the NHS Warm Homes Healthy People funded

Cold Homes Action Project (CHAP), which operated between 2011-13 and the Public Health funded Home

and Personalised Intervention Project (HAPI), which operated between 2013-14.

The Council is working, with the Public Health and the local Health and Housing Partnership, on how

housing and health can better work together to tackle fuel poverty and poor housing conditions. The

development of a health and housing referral pathway is currently being explored to help health and care

professionals efficiently access housing and energy efficiency help for their clients. Also, being explored is

the development of a resource to help vulnerable residents receive home assessments and improvements

when being discharged from hospital. All of these approaches are in line with recommendations of the

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ‘Excess winter deaths and illness and the health

risks associated with cold homes’ guidance (NG6).

2005-2013

2010-2014

2017 -

onwards


3 Central Government initiatives

3.1 Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

3.1.1 ECO flexible

eligibility

The Council with other BHY local authority partners in the LCR has reviewed the January 2017 publication of

BEIS’ response to Energy Company Obligation: help to heat consultation7 and its increased focus on

Affordable Warmth. As a result a common ECO Flexible Eligibility criterion has been devised and agreed

across the LCR for delivery through BHY.

This allows the Council and BHY to obtain the best possible ECO rates from energy companies. This criterion

has been signed-off by the Council in its statement of intent that was published on its website in summer

2017.

2017-18

3.2 Smart meters

3.2.1 Smart meter

roll-out

The UK Government expects that most households will have smart meters installed at no cost by their energy

company by 2020. National research on some of the first customers who had smart meters installed has

shown they reduced their energy consumption by 1.5-2%.

Smart meters are being advertised to residents and energy companies are currently installing Smart Meters in

the Wakefield district. The Council will provide advice and information to residents on Smart Meters through

its Energy Advice Service if required. The Council would also consider using smart metering data from

residents to improve energy efficiency by including this in their UNO housing energy efficiency database.

The roll-out and installation of smart meters will be facilitated and encouraged through the ESCo that the

Council is aiming to develop and launch in 2018.

On-going

7 The Government Response to the ECO: Help to Heat Consultation. BEIS, 2017


3.3 Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

3.3.1 Landlord

Accreditation

Scheme

The Government’s fuel poverty strategy, ‘Cutting the Cost of Keeping Warm’8, launched in 2015 confirmed

the adoption of new minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band E standards in private rented

homes from 2018. The strategy also sets a new fuel poverty target for as many fuel poor homes as is

reasonable practical to reach EPC band C by 2030. This target is supported by two intervening milestones

of EPC E by 2020 and D by 2025 for private rented properties and these standards are not met they

cannot be rented out.

The Council runs a landlord accreditation scheme, the Wakefield Responsible Landlord Scheme (WRLS),

which sets a minimum EPC band E for accredited landlords’ properties. The Energy Team works closely

with the WRLS to promote energy efficiency to the private rented sector and this work includes presenting

at WRLS forum events and placing articles in newsletters and this work is on-going.

Based on the findings from the BRE private sector stock condition survey, which showed that locally the

private rented sector has higher rates of fuel poverty, cold hazards and low income households, the aim is

to develop a package of fuel poverty assistance for the private rented sector in 2018 to encourage energy

efficiency improvements. This package will include the Energy Savers interest free loan that will be

opened-up to private landlords in 2018.

2017-

onwards

8 Cutting the cost of keeping warm: A fuel poverty strategy for England. HM Government, 2015

Documents

Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2017€¦ · Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995 and the associated guidance which was published on 4 th January 2017 2. Energy Saving