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The Existing Homes Alliance | Scotland

campaigning for the transformation of Scotland's existing housing stock

EXHA contribution to Parliament fuel poverty debate – January 2013

25 January 2013

Recent figures showed an increase in the incidence of fuel poverty to 29% at the end of 2011. While much of this is driven by soaring energy prices, energy efficiency upgrades have an important mitigating influence.  Evidence of this can be seen in the social rented sector where, due to energy efficiency improvements, fuel poverty levels decreased by 2% over the past year. Indeed, without the demand-led and area-based energy efficiency schemes, funded by the Scottish Government, it is clear the incidence of fuel poverty would be much higher and even more susceptible to changes in income and price.

ExHA therefore supports the approach of the Scottish Government in developing a National Retrofit Programme. This programme must be aimed at delivering fuel poverty, climate change and demand reduction targets. It must also include an area-based approach which prioritises low-income areas. It should also coordinate all other relevant polices and spending and maintain a national demand-led approach, while its strategic direction should be developed in consultation with stakeholders.

See the Alliance parliamentary briefing here parli brief on fuel poverty debate jan 2013 exha

Filed Under: Policy

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.

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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

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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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