Call for putting low-income households at the heart of Europe’s future policy

While an EU energy efficiency target has been set for 2030, this only means that the work must really start now. While this was written before the Summit that set the target, Simon Read provides an important article in The Independent about the “growing energy divide.” We certainly have a chance to address that. … Continue reading Call for putting low-income households at the heart of Europe’s future policy →

New fuel poverty strategy in UK under attack

While Ministers in the UK set new targets for improving the energy efficiency rating of 'fuel poor' homes, Emily Gosden writes in The Telegraph that there are many campaigners who feel the targets are too loosely defined. Government fuel poverty strategy 'meaningless' and 'inadequate', campaigners warn Government plans to tackle fuel poverty are "inadequate" … Continue reading New fuel poverty strategy in UK under attack →

Concerns in Wales that addressing fuel poverty is falling short

Graham Henry writes in Walesonline about the Older People’s Commissioner of Wales, Sarah Rochira, fears that eliminating fuel poverty by 2018 is unrealistic. Drying toilet paper on radiators and eating only two boiled potatoes a day: Wales will fail to eradicate fuel poverty by 2018, fears Older People’s Commissioner Retaining a target to eradicate … Continue reading Concerns in Wales that addressing fuel poverty is falling short →

New funding to support fuel poverty in Scotland

Scotland has announced more funding for an energy efficiency retrofit scheme that will help address fuel poverty. ClickGreen provides the details. Scottish Government announces £60m energy efficiency programme The Scottish Government has announced a £60 million energy efficiency fund and confirmed plans to permanently take on responsibility for the ECO and Warm Homes Discount … Continue reading New funding to support fuel poverty in Scotland →

New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU

The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) has published a new report that should be mandatory reading for all EiD followers. While the topic comes up regularly, we are getting nowhere to resolving the issue of fuel poverty. As the new BPIE report explains, fuel poverty is a major problem in and for Europe. In 2012, … Continue reading New BPIE study: Alleviating Fuel Poverty in the EU →

Figure of the week – £31.78

The Independent newspaper reported this week that UK Fuel Poverty Monitor from the charities National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland reveals that in Wales and Scotland £31.78 of Government funding is available per domestic electricity consumer to improve domestic energy efficiency. But in England the figure falls to just £3.52. The fuel poverty report … Continue reading Figure of the week – £31.78 →

One more reason why we need to deal more effectively with fuel poverty

A new survey in the UK has given some unsettling results, showing that two thirds of adults questioned said they would not turn the gas or electricity on or up when feeling chilly. Is this the traditional British stiff upper lip to adversity or people simply making a choice between keeping warm or eating? Or … Continue reading One more reason why we need to deal more effectively with fuel poverty →

New paper: fuel poverty and energy efficiency obligations – a critical view

Jan Rosenow, a Senior Consultant in Energy and Climate Policy at Ricardo-AEA, a global consulting firm, has teamed up with Reg Platt (Institute for Public Policy Research) and Brooke Flanagan (Future Climate) and produced a paper critically examining the tensions created by using energy efficiency obligations for fuel poverty alleviation. While the energy efficiency obligations … Continue reading New paper: fuel poverty and energy efficiency obligations – a critical view →

‘Fuel poverty’ policy changes in the UK

Steve Hawkes writes in The Telegraph about the change in definition of fuel poverty that will remove up to one million people from being considered fuel poor. Is this a good move or not? Campaigners certainly do not think so. Government takes 1m out of fuel poverty - by changing the rules Campaigners criticised … Continue reading ‘Fuel poverty’ policy changes in the UK →

An ACE effort

The UK’s Association for the Conservation of Energy has produced an excellent “fact-file” comparing fuel poverty and energy efficiency in the UK to 15 other European countries with comparable levels of prosperity and heating need. It ranks these countries against six key indicators for which consistent and recent European data are available to assess the … Continue reading An ACE effort →