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The Existing Homes Alliance | Scotland

campaigning for the transformation of Scotland's existing housing stock

Existing Homes Alliance response to fuel poverty strategy consultation

1 February 2018

Summary of key points from consultation response:

  • We welcome the commitment to eradicate fuel poverty, but regret there is no target date.
  • The sub-targets are hugely unambitious – they propose to reduce fuel poverty levels from 27% today to 10% by 2040. This averages out at a reduction of less than 1% a year – we can and must do far better.
  • We welcome the commitment to remove poor energy performance as a driver of fuel poverty, but the targets are vague and lack ambition. We suggest as a starting point that a target of EPC band C is set (unless technically not feasible) with provision to rise to EPC band B.
  • The strategy is lacking in new policies, programmes and resources that will provide the step-change required to eradicate fuel poverty.
  • The suggested scope of the Warm Homes Bill is too narrow. The Warm Homes Bill is a rare opportunity to propose legislative measures that will ensure the fuel poverty target is addressed and support the achievement of warm, affordable and low carbon homes for everyone in Scotland so no one is at risk of being in fuel poverty.
  • We broadly support the new definition of fuel poverty, however we believe income thresholds should be adjusted upwards for households living in remote and rural areas due to the higher costs of heating properties.
  • The new fuel poverty strategy demands cross-portfolio support and therefore should be led by a cross-ministerial committee. The Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel should be established in statute, to provide an advisory and scrutiny role, with a requirement to report to ministers and Parliament.

EXHA response_Fuel Poverty consultation_FINAL_1Feb18

Filed Under: News

10 Key Recommendations

1 The Energy Efficient Scotland Programme, the cornerstone of the National Infrastructure Priority for energy efficiency, should have a statutory underpinning, including a target for the vast majority of housing (where technically feasible and appropriate) to reach the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2030.

2 The introduction of new regulation and planning controls, backed by market incentives, to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.

3 Scotland-wide area-based schemes to deliver retrofit of existing homes, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, street by street, alongside a national, demand led programme.

4 A range of financial incentives to encourage investment in energy efficiency and micro-generation.

5 New service offerings, products and packages for retrofit.

6 Better information on household energy use and its carbon emissions for consumers.

7 Better energy performance data on existing housing.

8 Reliable quality control and up-skilling on low and zero-carbon technologies.

9 A major programme to catalogue and showcase existing and ongoing exemplar low energy refurbishments.

10 Maximise use of devolved powers and influence UK policy to improve energy efficiency.

Learn more »

About us

The Existing Homes Alliance Scotland is a coalition calling for urgent action to transform Scotland's existing housing stock and make it fit for the 21st century. Too many of Scotland's homes are in a poor condition meaning unnecessarily high fuel use.

We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the William Grant Foundation.

Recent Updates

  • Alliance welcomes ambitious climate plan but awaits detail on delivery
  • Calls for doubling of funding as latest statistics show a quarter of households still living in fuel poverty
  • Warm homes and the Scottish Budget 2021/22

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Join our campaign to ensure there are no households in Scotland living in a hard-to-heat, draughty home by 2030. We urge the Scottish Government to use the once in a generation opportunity of the Energy Efficient Scotland programme and the Fuel Poverty Bill to transform Scotland’s homes for the better, put an end to fuel poverty and seize the opportunities of a low carbon future.

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