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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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David Lynch Research Assistant NEA

Research at NEA – what we’re about

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Eliminate fuel poverty and achieve warm homes for all households, through promoting understanding of the causes and consequences of fuel poverty, and the development of effective means of achieving these goals.

NEA Goals:

Policy and practice can’t always wait on achieving scientific certainty. Quick, pragmatic solutions were needed at earlier stages. But NEA believes that as far as practicable policy recommendations and practice should be evidence-based. This should help to maximise buy-in of funders and policy-makers.

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Hence, aims of NEA Research•Developing our understanding of the changing patterns of fuel poverty, its causes and consequences, and the circumstances and processes which lead households being exposed to unsatisfactory indoor air conditions.

• Evaluation of internal and external programmes and projects designed, partly or wholly, to promote domestic energy efficiency and warmer homes.

•Interpretation and dissemination of research findings so as to contribute to the development of effective policy and practice in promoting domestic energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty.

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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POLICY

Everyday

Practice

EvaluationTheory

(Action) Research

…in other words, linking Theory & Practice…..

…to help develop models which work better

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Homes Homes which can’t give affordable warmth

HouseholdsHouseholds in Fuel Poverty

Damaged building fabric – inadequate equipment

Broken, inefficient or inadequate heating & ventilation

Poor insulation standards

uneconomical appliances

LowHouseholdincome

Under occupancy

Deficits in Energy Knowledge – low h/h interest

ExpensiveFuel tariff

Fuel Poverty has Fuel Poverty has multiple multiple causes……causes……

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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…and many steps are needed to ensure effective treatment……

•Finding and identifying households in/at risk of fuel poverty (patterns, targeting, data)

•Quantifying and securing the funding & measures needed to ensure coverage and effective treatment (effective packages – stumbling blocks to getting them)

•Getting good rates of take-up

•Ensuring households benefit from measures (energy etc knowledge; use of controls etc)

•Ensuring access (e.g.: EEC distribution, rurality, ethnicity)

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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So what have we been doing about it this year?

1. Optimising take-up of Warm Front (WF) energy efficiency measures phase 2:

Phase 1 of research in 2004 identified one of the main reasons why people accept, refuse or withdraw from WF measures was:

•Difficulties gaining permission from private landlords to carry out work.

Main objectives of the study were:

•To better understand private landlords’ perceptions and understanding of WF

•What would better encourage them to agree to measures

•To trail a WF promotional leaflet specifically targeted at private landlords

•To identify the main barriers to take-up

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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1. Key findings from Optimising the Take-up of Warm Front Research

Clarity and Detail – private landlords feel they are not provided with detail they require regarding WF and the services it provides

• More information on what exactly is provided under WF including technical details regarding measures

• Concern regarding the rent clause largely prevalent- almost quarter of sample stated the rent issue was a deterrent. (Misunderstanding of the regulation)

A promotional leaflet helped private landlords make more informed decisions- in turn increases likelihood of approval. Over two thirds of the sample thought that their knowledge of WF had improved after reading the leaflet.

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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1. Illustrate current practice in provision of benefit entitlement checks (BECs)

2. Investigate the barriers to take-up of BECs and submission of claims

3. Establish effective mechanisms for increasing take-up

4. Explore the extent to which income maximisation can help to alleviate fuel poverty

2. Maximising Income Research - Commissioned by DEFRA and completed summer 2005

Main objectives of the project were:

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Maximising Income Research – Three Elements

1. Survey of agencies providing benefit entitlement check (BEC) services to establish current practice

2. Analysis of operational data obtained from Newcastle Warm Zone

3. Survey of households who had or had not received a BEC service

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Key Outcomes:

1. Current practice

• Survey of 15 schemes providing income maximisation services (BECs)

• Increase in household income was substantial, on average £1,550

• Barriers to take-up were consistently identified by scheme personnel:

Complex forms and processes

Confidentiality and negative experiences

Reluctance to challenge decisions

Pride and self reliance

2. Operational data analysis – Newcastle Warm Zone

• Of the sample that made successful benefit claims only one remained fuel poor after intervention

• Increased income combined with reduction in fuel costs as a result of energy efficiency measures almost halved the proportion of income needed for fuel

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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3. Survey of households

• Purpose of survey was to investigate the main barriers to the take-up of BECs on offer and to making a benefit claim

• Main Findings:

• Reluctance to engage within the complex application process

• Need more advice before proceeding with BEC

• A third were unaware of where to go to seek advice about benefits

• Low awareness of service offering specific advice about affordable warmth

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Fuel Poverty Statistics: North East / Durham

• North East: population 2.5million / 1.1million households,

• Fuel Poor Households: 162,000 (15% fuel poor households)

• 30,000 (18%) Fuel Poor with kids

• 61,000 (38%) Fuel Poor Pensioners

• 9% Low SAP (Number of homes with SAP< 35 not good!

• Excess winter mortality 1,898 (6%2dp) of total 32,358 EWM England & Wales based on 5yr average 98-03.

• City of Durham: population 88,000 / 36,000 households

• 4,100 (11%2dp) Fuel Poor households

• 10,000 (9%2dp) Fuel Poor Population

• 62 Excess winter deaths per year based on 5yr average 98/03

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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What we can do for you?

Provide data for your campaigns e.g. local fuel poverty estimates, ewm data etc (free to members)

Advise on developing your strategic information, alongside development of Affordable Warmth Strategy

Signpost our (& others’) key research findings better

Respond to your views on what we need to know more about, & getting it on the research agenda

Gather intelligence with project officers and local collaborators to strengthen the case for change that’s needed

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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What you can do for us…..

Share information about what’s going on, problems solved and unsolved

Collaborate from time in formal research as respondents (we do know you’re busy), and as partners. Just now…..

….we’d we grateful for your considered views on

maximising take up of warm front measures amongst rural communities

Tell us about actual or mooted schemes directed at the

special problems such as targeting hard-to-reach groups

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Research at NEA – Autumn 2005

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Please contact:Please contact:

David Lynch (rural, AWS, Gas Safety)

Helen Stockton (data, health)

Nick Merleau-Ponty (scheme integration, household energy behaviour, ideas)

EMAIL: Forename.surname@nea.org.uk

Tel (all): 0191 261 5677