NEA strategy calls for more coherent approach to fuel poverty and
energy efficiency

National Energy Action (NEA) is calling on the Government to combine its existing energy efficiency and fuel poverty schemes into one national programme. The organisation has issued a strategy paper stating that too many competing schemes currently promote too many solutions to too many different groups of people. This results in confusion, mistrust and inaction. It represents an expensive, ineffective approach to solving the related problems of fuel poverty and climate change.

Under the proposed strategy, local authorities would direct the systematic roll-out of energy efficiency measures in areas where clusters of low-income households and poor quality housing are identified. A single UK-wide funding stream could be established to support this work. This would use money set aside for current schemes such as Warm Front and by turning the planned Supplier Obligation into a basic financial demand on suppliers or generators. Up to £5billion could be made available in this way every year up to 2020, according to NEA.

A Code for Sustainable Existing Homes is also called for, with standards tied to Energy Performance Certificate bandings. Progressively tightening targets should be set across different tenures with an aim of achieving zero carbon existing housing by 2050. By 2020 (within the first three carbon budgets), all existing homes could be expected to reach a minimum standard of band level C.

NEA is inviting comments on its strategy paper, which considers further delivery options as well as the need for incentives to attract non-fuel poor households to make energy efficiency improvements; skills building programmes to train installers, advisers and assessors; and enforcement and reporting structures to ensure real progress can be made and monitored. Copies of the document can be downloaded here: www.nea.org.uk/assets/PDF-documents/National-Energy-Efficiency-Strategy-Feb-2009.pdf