Affordable warmth is the solution to fuel poverty. Through better heating and insulation and increasing benefit uptake, many households move away from fuel poverty.
What is fuel poverty?
Fuel poverty is a historic problem in Britain, affecting many generations of people. It has only been recognised as a significant issue recently and in 2001 the government set out its UK Fuel Poverty Strategy which aims to end fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010, and eradicate it by 2016.
A household is said to be suffering from fuel poverty if it cannot afford to keep adequately warm at a reasonable cost. Fuel poverty is defined as a household that needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to heat its home to an adequate standard of warmth, This is generally defined as 21°C in the living room and 18°C in the other occupied rooms.
Some households have a greater need for heat than others. This may be a need for higher indoor temperatures or for longer hours of heating than the average household. Vulnerable households at risk of fuel poverty include:
- older people
- physically or mentally disabled, blind, partially sighted or deaf people
- people with chronic illness
- lone parents with young children
- long term unemployed people or people who live on a low income
- minority ethnic and faith groups.
The affordable warmth strategy for Bury 2006
Fuel poverty is a complex problem and its solution requires a strategic approach. The affordable warmth strategy has been developed to help alleviate the borough's fuel poverty, deliver affordable warmth for all residents and ensure that the benefits of energy efficiency measures are brought to the attention of all households. The strategy also includes a detailed action plan for tackling the problem which will assist in the delivery of our local policy and help to achieve national targets set out in the government's 'Fuel Poverty in England: The Government's Plan for Action'.
The aims of the affordable warmth strategy for Bury 2006
To address the problems associated with fuel poverty the strategy identifies five main aims:
- Raise awareness, promote communication & provide information on affordable warmth to key agencies/ public.
- Ensure that housing stock in Bury is capable of delivering Affordable Warmth.
- Provide energy efficiency and financial advice to all households.
- Improve or sustain the impacts on health, well being and social care.
- Establish partnership working and a co-ordinated approach to providing affordable warmth.
More information
Download the affordable warmth strategy for Bury 2006 (16 page, 282 kb pdf)
Download the affordable warmth action plan 2006 (14 page, 143kb pdf)
Download the affordable warmth action plan with results and outcomes for 2006 – 2008 (12 page, 73kb, pdf)
Contact us
Environmental Services, Textile Hall, Manchester Road, Bury BL9 0DG
Phone: 0161 253 5566
Fax: 0161 253 5563
E-mail: environmentalhealth@bury.gov.uk
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