Affordable Warmth strategy2009 – 2012

Draft

Contents

1. Aim

2. Background2.1 Fuel Poverty defined2.2 Thermal efficiency2.3 Household income2.4 Increasing fuel prices

3. The local Fuel Poverty picture3.1 SAP ratings by Local Authority3.2 Fuel Poverty by Local Authority area

4. Risks to Health

5. Type of Available Assistance

6. Conclusion

Appendices

1. Action plan2. Avenues for assistance

AbbreviationsSAP Standard Assessment ProcedureEPC Energy Performance CertificateCERT Carbon Emissions Reduction TargetESEP East Sussex Energy PartnershipESTAC Energy Saving Trust Advice CentreHPO Housing Project OfficerESHH East Sussex Healthy HomesCEN Creative Environmental NetworksHIA Home Improvement Agency

1. Aim

Working together, Rother District Council and Hastings and Rother PCT seek to help alleviate fuel poverty and strive towards making affordable warmth a reality for fuel poor residents of Rother. We will do this by informing residents about the risks of a poorly heated home, educate them as to where they can go for help and, in many instances, directly refer vulnerable members of the community to government funded measures, advice and support to help bring them out of fuel poverty. Council funding for measures to alleviate fuel poverty is limited but by targeting resources to provide the most effective services the aims of this strategy will make a tangible difference to the community.

2. Background

2.1 Fuel Poverty DefinedThe most widely accepted definition of a “fuel poor” household is one that needs to spend more than 10% of its income on all fuel use, including heating the home to an adequate standard of warmth. This is generally defined as 21oC in the living room and 18oC in other occupied rooms. Importantly, this definition focuses on what people would need to spend rather than what they actually spend. In reality, fuel poor households often have to balance the need for fuel against other essentials and are unable to heat their homes properly.

There are three key elements that will contribute to a household being in fuel poverty, namely:

o Thermal efficiency of the propertyo Household incomeo Increases in fuel prices

2.2 Thermal EfficiencyAs of April 2002, all new properties and those that have undergone a material change of use are required to have a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating carried out. Similarly, as of October 2008 all properties put up for let must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which will also denote a SAP rating. These ratings on a 1-100 scale measures the thermal qualities and energy efficiency of a property. The majority of properties fall between 30 – 65 on this scale. A score of less than 30 is considered unacceptably low and may be considered a proxy hazard on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Conversely, if a property attains a score of 65 or more it is thought the thermal conditions of the property will no longer be the main cause of a household being fuel poor.

2.3 Household IncomeMany of those suffering fuel poverty are on a low-income, this may seem like a truism but it is important to bear in mind. Making the most of what little income a household has then becomes increasingly important. The most effective way of doing this, particularly for families and older people, is to carry out a full benefit entitlement check. Not only does this serve to raise the level of income into a household but receipt of such benefits are often a gateway to receiving additional support and eligibility for various energy efficiency grants. Average incomes for three wards in Bexhill (Sackville, St Michaels and Sidley) are more than £10,000 below the mean average for the South East as a whole and significantly below that of East Sussex as a county.

SAP ratings by Local Authority

3035404550556065

National South East Eastbourne Hastings Lew es Rother Wealden

2.4 Increasing Fuel PricesDomestic energy prices are on the rise and are now 50% higher than in 2003. It is expected that the continued rise in prices will see the numbers of those in fuel poverty return to levels last seen in 1998 where 3.4m households were in fuel poverty. Such price increases have a disproportionate impact on low-income households who, due to past payment difficulties, are often restricted to using prepayment meters which are set at a higher tariff. In 2007, prepayment customers paid about 17% (or £145), more on average than direct debit customers.

3. The local Fuel Poverty picture

As illustrated in the charts below, Fuel Poverty is a real issue in Rother and surrounding authorities (chart 1). Rother has the lowest proportion of households in Fuel Poverty of all East Sussex local authorities (chart 2), this is in part due to the pro-active work undertaken by the council in promoting energy efficiency measures and organising promotional events in the district to make residents aware of these issues. It is in this area that this strategy aims to build upon and improve awareness. This is tempered by the higher incidences of fuel poverty in our more rural areas. A combination of factors is at work here including a lack of mains gas provision, property type of rural dwellings and the static income of many older people in our rural areas.

3.1 SAP Ratings by Local Authority

Chart 1: SAP ratings by Local Authority area, taken from 2007 stock condition surveys

Households in Fuel Poverty by Local Authority area and Rother sub-area

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%

Eastbourne

Hastings

Lewes

Wealden

Rother

Central Bexhill

Outer Bexhill

Rural (Battle, Brede)

Rye and Eastern

3.2 Fuel Poverty Level by Local Authority Area

Chart 2: Incidence of Fuel Poverty by Local Authority area, taken from 2007 stock condition surveys

4. Risks to Health

4.1 Cold, damp housing can cause or exacerbate a number of physical and psychological conditions including influenza, arthritis, cardiovascular problems such as heart disease and strokes, and respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma.

4.2 A cold home can also contribute to mental health problems causing psychological distress and depression.

4.3 Fuel poverty can increase the social isolation felt by many older people and reduce quality of life. They spend greater periods of time at home either for financial reasons or fear of returning to a cold home and are reluctant to invite friends home.

4.4 Research indicates that people living in cold and damp conditions tend to be at greater risk of falls and accidents in the home. Injuries can cause long-term ill health or disability and result in the occupant going into residential care.

4.5 Excess winter mortality stands at between 20,000 and 50,000 each year. Elderly people are by far the most likely group to be affected by this (over 80% of Excess Deaths were from over 75’s in 2005/6). There is a

strong correlation between poorly heated homes and the identified causes of many of these deaths.

5. Types of Available Assistance

As mentioned above, the council has been working hard to reduce the incidence of fuel poverty in the district. There is, however, much more still to be done. Grants for energy efficiency measures and renewables are delivered through various channels but the most common ways are through Private Sector Renewal budgets and via grants for part-funding from Government. Furthermore, energy suppliers have access to CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) funding which also comes from Government to help the over 70s and those on qualifying benefits. The prioritising of these groups is common amongst many energy efficiency schemes which is why it is so important to make sure households are claiming any benefits they are entitled to and making contact with older people and their advocates to make them aware that such help is available. A directory of some of these avenues for help is included in (Appendix 2)

6. Conclusion

Much work has been undertaken in this area both nationally and locally and the council plays a vital role in facilitating existing schemes and developing new sources of advice and assistance. The council and its partner organisations have been working to reduce fuel poverty and promote the notion that a warm, decent, home should be an expected norm, and not a elusive target to be struggled for. The aims of this strategy involve getting out into the district, particularly the rural northern and eastern parts where large numbers of properties are harder to insulate and lie off the gas network. A programme has already begun to train workers throughout the district that can identify a potentially fuel poor household and inform them where to go for help. This work is to be expanded alongside a dedicated programme that is under development to lower fuel bills in our off-gas areas. These work areas will be combined with an increased profile for energy efficiency in the district as the council’s housing team and its partners attend many more events throughout the district. Rother District council and its’ partners at Hastings and Rother PCT and the East Sussex Healthy Homes project will be delivering upon the Action Plan set out herein (Appendix 1). We also seek to develop new, innovative, projects to make the notion of Affordable Warmth an expected norm for the residents of Rother.

Ref Objective Annual Targets Progress Links Performance monitoring method

Service actions & milestones

Resources

AFF 1

Raise awareness of fuel poverty and Affordable Warmth issues among agencies in the district

Provide training to RDC frontline staff, PCT, other public sector, private sector and voluntary organisations2007/08: 3 sessions2008/09: 5 sessions2009/10: 8 sessions2010/11: 12 sessions

3 sessions delivered in 2007/08

LSP target Ensure relavent bodies, companies and voluntary organisations are aware of training opportunities

HPOESHHPCT

AFF 2

Target energy efficiency advice at the most vulnerable

Two GP mail outs combined with flu mailing each year. Using IMD and age profiling a direct mailing of at least 200 households per annum

Mail out undertaken with Ferry Rd surgery, Rye

Include a free-post questionnaire and monitor response

Vulnerable and elderly households being successfully targeted via direct mail

HPOESHH PSH ManagerRDC Benefits sectionHIACEN

Carry out mailing to 6,000 households to monitor home energy usage in vulnerable private-sector households

CEN appointed to carry out mailing report on findings

NI 187 Mailing undertaken in December 2008

AFF 3

Promote Energy Efficiency throughout the district

Attendance at events with materials relating to Affordable Warmth, the East Sussex Energy Partnership (ESEP), other grants, services and technologies as appropriate to client group and event type. Attend:5 events 2008/098 events 2009/1012 events 2010/11

2 events attended in 2008/09 thus far

Monitoring by Affordable Warmth steering group

Calendar of events for attendance formalised

HPOESHHESEPESTAC

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Avenues for assistanceRother District Council Contact details for grant

assistance and resource for documents to download

www.rother.gov.uk/housing 01424 787000

East Sussex Energy Partnership

Grants for insulation and solar hot water measures

www.esep.org.uk 0800 9800 901

Warm Front Grants for new heating systems and improvements

www.warmfront.co.uk 0800 316 2805

Energy Saving Trust National service regionally delivered that gives information and advice on grants as well as tips for energy saving

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk 0800 512 012

NHS Keep Warm & Well campaign.

Keep Warm & Well is a health centred partnership scheme giving advice on a range of ideas to keep you warm and well.

www.nhsdirect.nhs.ukwww.direct.gov.uk/keepwarmkeepwell

0845 46 470845 15 15 15 (Winter Fuel payment)