To order a title please send a cheque for the relevant amount, made payable to "NEA", to Susan Storey, Communications Resources Officer, St Andrew's House, 90-92 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6SG. Alternatively, e-mail info@nea.org.uk and we will invoice you (publications will be despatched on payment of invoice). There is no charge for publications that can be downloaded from this page.
Prevention into action - Single Assessment Process & Common Assessment Framework Toolkit
This resource is an updated awareness toolkit for responding to cold-related health and social care risks through the Single Assessment Process and Common Assessment Framework and draws on findings from NEA's 'Prevention is better than cure research (see below). SAP and CAF provide an ideal mechanism for identifying householders at risk of, or living in fuel poverty and promoting referral into available affordable warmth services. The toolkit contains a range of presentations for local use, appropriate guidance on key issues and practical resources for frontline practitioners
Community Energy Saving Programme: barriers, solutions, success. Annex documents: Area profiles and appendices
These documents accompany a user guide intended for general use by agencies operating a scheme under the new Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). Agencies operating a scheme under the CESP that do not have a copy of the user guide should contact NEA or their contact within the CESP team at DECC.
The profiling document presents a profile of eligible locations across Great Britain to assist scheme operators identify the most appropriate areas for implementation of a CESP programme and some of the key characteristics of their chosen areas. Profiles include data relating to the regional or local authority location of eligible areas; tenure distribution; proportion of solid walls and off gas properties; and morphology (rural/urban classification).
Warming Homes, Cooling the Planet: An Analysis of Socio-Techno-Economic Energy Efficiency Policy and Practice in the UK. An academic thesis and practitioner report
The thesis focuses on the challenges faced by householders in their
everyday use of energy and how, in different ways, they engage with and disengage
from governing agencies, and the issues of fuel poverty and climate change. Attention is paid to the sometimes synergistic yet sometimes problematic outcomes that result when attempts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from homes become entangled with efforts to make energy more affordable for those vulnerable to fuel poverty.
The report is intended for use by practitioners and other interested parties. It presents the key findings, conclusions and opportunities for the future from the main academic thesis, in a more concise format.
The reports are based on a three year research project funded by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) CASE studentship and NEA. The research was a PhD project based in Durham University’s Geography Department.
Alleviating Fuel Poverty in order to improve health in the North East. Final report for the Economy, Culture and Environment Regional Advisory Group of Public Health North East
The following report was commissioned by the health sector in the North East. The report sets out to determine how the health of the population could be improved by alleviating the problems and issues brought on by being in fuel poverty.
This report will be of use to all sectors as fuel poverty is not a single sector issue.
Tackling fuel poverty in Europe. Recommendations Guide for Policy Makers
NEA has been involved in a project to assess the scale of fuel poverty and how well this issue is understood in a number of European countries. Working in partnership with agencies from the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, in a project known collectively as the EPEE project, the main purpose of the partnership's work was to raise the profile of fuel poverty in countries where the issue is barely recognised and to see if a common European approach could be developed to defining and resolving the problems faced by low-income energy consumers. The EPEE project has published a brief summary of some of the findings from the project and a series of recommendations to EU decision makers on action needed to ensure affordable warmth for all households in EU Member States.
NEA MAT Payment Method Report
The main objective of this scoping study, funded by the Money Advice Trust (MAT),
was to examine the case for and identify the components of a new payment method
for vulnerable households either at risk of or in fuel debt. A series of document and
secondary data analysis was undertaken; current fuel payment methods within and
outside of the UK were identified and appraised; the function of the competitive
energy market and the position of vulnerable consumers within it was examined;
and the relationships between fuel payment types, levels of fuel debt, and degrees
of consumer risk of fuel poverty were explored.
A cold, damp home is a danger zone - Make your home safe and warm
This resource pack seeks to promote greater understanding between those working in Children's Trusts and the wider energy field of how they can work together to create affordable warmth for families. The pack contains a range of briefing papers, presentations and other resources for Children's Trust policy makers and practitioners, parents and those working in the wider energy field.
Home Energy Advice Team - ScottishPower End of Year Report
NEA Coventry is a local branch of the national charity NEA, which develops and promotes energy services to tackle the heating and insulation problems of low-income households. The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) has completed the first year of a two year project that intends to deliver solutions to the complex problem of fuel debt.
NEA was awarded a grant of £49,680.71 from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust to deliver the HEAT project between 1 April 2008 and the 31 March 2010. This end of year report summarises NEA’s delivery of the project so far.
The Cost of Affordable Warmth
This report examines the relationship between Government and energy supplier investment in programmes to mitigate fuel poverty and the extent to which these fall short of the measures required to attain statutory targets on fuel poverty eradication. In particular, it looks at the current levels of funding made available by Westminster and Holyrood Governments to tackle fuel poverty, while examining the disparity between existing funding and the resources needed to eradicate fuel poverty.
Hotspots Toolkit
This Hotspots toolkit provides guidance on the development of local Hotspots schemes to tackle the wider determinants of fuel poverty. Hotspots is a cross-referral initiative which aims to engage frontline practitioners as referrers of vulnerable and hard-to-reach households primarily into sources of energy efficiency assistance and advice, income maximisation and home safety services. Hotspots is an adaptable model which can be developed as a standalone scheme or to complement existing provision. It is reliant on in-kind support from agencies and has minimal core costs which makes it an attractive proposition for partnerships operating within tight budgets. The cross-referral nature of provision maximises the range of services that can be provided to householders regardless of how they are referred and also supports the achievement of targets across a broad range of objectives.
The Toolkit has been prepared by Hotspots partners in West Yorkshire with support from NEA. The Toolkit contains the principal guidance as well as three example PowerPoint presentations:
- Referral Scheme Presentation - for referral partners on how to complete referral cards
- Hotspots Launch Presentation - to use at a launch or other event
- Hotspots Fire Services training presentation - to use with fire services staff
North East Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 2 - February 2009
NEA’s regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
This edition contains an up to date summary of fuel poverty facts and figures, recent policy changes, key consultations and news on what’s happening more broadly within the affordable warmth arena at a regional and national level.
North West Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 2 - February 2009
NEA’s regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
This edition contains an up to date summary of fuel poverty facts and figures, recent policy changes, key consultations and news on what’s happening more broadly within the affordable warmth arena at a regional and national level.
London Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 2 - February 2009
NEA’s fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity in London can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
This edition contains an up to date summary of fuel poverty facts and figures, recent policy changes, key consultations and news on what’s happening more broadly within the affordable warmth arena within London and at a national level.
Eastern Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 2 - February 2009
NEA’s regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
This edition contains an up to date summary of fuel poverty facts and figures, recent policy changes, key consultations and news on what’s happening more broadly within the affordable warmth arena at a regional and national level.
East Midlands Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 2 - February 2009
NEA’s regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
This edition contains an up to date summary of fuel poverty facts and figures, recent policy changes, key consultations and news on what’s happening more broadly within the affordable warmth arena at a regional and national level.
Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 2 - February 2009
NEA’s regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
This edition contains an up to date summary of fuel poverty facts and figures, recent policy changes, key consultations and news on what’s happening more broadly within the affordable warmth arena at a regional and national level.
Fuel Poverty Action: A Practical Advice Guide
This practical guide is intended to assist Members of Parliament, local authority councillors and advice workers in identifying fuel and other energy problems and to provide information and guidance on how to resolve these problems. It considers the most common areas of concern for domestic energy consumers and describes their rights and entitlements, and the agencies that are available to help them.
The guide describes practical action to alleviate fuel poverty, to benefit the health and well-being of constituents and to increase their disposable income. Also contained within the guide are details of the specialist agencies to which constituents can be referred.
Affordable Warmth - Sustainable World. NEA and Defra Award Scheme 2008-2009 in association with British Gas
In 2006 & 2007 the Affordable warmth - Sustainable World Award scheme provided grant assistance to nine regional winners each year. The success of the scheme has led to a third phase of the awards in 2008-2009.
Eastern Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 1
NEA's regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 1
NEA's regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
East Midlands Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 1
NEA's regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
North West Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 1
NEA's regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
North East Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 1
NEA's regional fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.
London Fuel Poverty Briefing - Issue 1
NEA's fuel poverty briefing is a bi-annual publication which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity in London can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households
Beating the cold: a guide for local action (English/Welsh)
To help support local action to tackle fuel poverty, the Assembly Government commissioned NEA Cymru to help develop Affordable Warmth Action Plans for each local authority area. In December 2007, NEA Cymru held a workshop with representatives from local authorities to discuss the best ways in which to turn the commitments contained in the Affordable Warmth Action Plans into effective actions. With their help we have developed this guide - designed to build on lessons learned and to provide guidance that can ensure local plans are put into action.
UK Fuel Poverty Monitor: Sixth year report. The wrong direction: how UK Fuel Poverty Policy lost its way - (May 2008)
This issue of the UK Fuel Poverty Monitor has a dual purpose - to present the current situation in the constituent countries of the United Kingdom and to consider how fuel poverty policy decisions resting with Westminster can be revised and strengthened to make energy affordable for vulnerable households.
Fuel savings through new technologies: Micro-generation annual review 2007-08 (May 2008)
Micro-generation can directly impact on the lives of vulnerable groups and there is great potential to use micro-generation to help eradicate fuel poverty. Rising and unstable gas and electricity prices are replaced with energy that comes from an infinite, natural source, with little or indeed no reliance on these volatile markets. In addition, renewable energy brings environmental benefits and, as such, is of increasing importance in national energy policy.
Working as an Energy Champion in your Housing Association
A guide for Energy Champions and staff working within housing associations, this booklet provides information on the issues of fuel poverty and affordable warmth and advises housing association staff on how to work with both individual householders and the wider community to ensure that every tenant is able to heat their home affordably.
Keeping warm in your home. A Housing Association tenant's guide
Some people find it difficult to keep their homes warm and comfortable. This booklet is designed especially for people who rent their homes from Housing Associations. It provides information that may help to reduce bills whilst still keeping warm enough.
Health Trainer resource pack
The 'Health Trainer' initiative was announced in the 'Choosing Health' White Paper as a means to address broader health inequalities particularly in disadvantaged communities. Health Trainers are in an excellent position to identify households living in, or at risk of fuel poverty and refer them into available provision that in turn may improve health and well-being. The resource pack contains a presentation, a range of briefing materials and practical resources to encourage Health Trainers to help local people to achieve their personal health goals, improve their living conditions and minimise their risk of fuel poverty.
Modelling the North East Economy: the Impact of Fuel Poverty Intervention on Economic Activity in the North East of England
National Energy Action (NEA) completed research which measures the economic impact of fuel poverty interventions in the North East of England. This research, funded by Defra, was carried out in partnership with Durham University and used anti-fuel poverty measures data in conjunction with data contained in the North East Regional Accounts and Economic Model, developed at Durham University and funded by One North East.
Renewable energy: How to get the best for your clients
This report contains an executive summary and appendices of key decision-making factors for the installation of solar thermal, heat pumps, micro wind, biomass stoves and solar PV. The report outlines some of the important factors in making a decision about which technology, if any, is suitable to a particular household. You will find this report useful if you are an energy advisor, a specifier of renewable energy or someone who is interested in reducing energy consumption and fuel bills in your home.
Tackling fuel poverty: the next steps
A joint report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt and Personal Finance and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty. This report is intended to provide an overview of the factors which could undermine the efforts to reach fuel poverty targets and the articles contained in this report highlight some key areas for action.
Keep warm, save money. Off-the-shelf training resource (October 2006, revised August 2007)
This comprehensive pack has been designed to support the training and development of community volunteers - enabling energy efficiency advice and information to be delivered to people in their homes. The resource is an off-the-shelf toolkit for trainers and consists of session plans, tutor notes, lists of recommended resources, handouts and hints & tips on effectively delivery techniques. Courses on 'how to use the pack' are also available from NEA.
Available as hard copy only at £5.00 per copy. Please contact Susan Storey for details
Modernising your property
A guide to energy efficiency improvements for private landlords in West Sussex, Gloucestershire, Devon and Dorset.
NEA is working together with eaga Warm Front, the National Landlords Association and the National Federation for Residential Landlords to increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures in the private rented sector. 'Modernising Your Property' explains the importance of energy efficiency in the home and informs abour recent and forthcoming legislation such as the Housing Health Safety Rating System and the Energy in Buildings Performance Directive.
The West Sussex leaflet is available to download above. For Gloucestershire, Devon and Dorset, please contact Susan Storey.
Factor 4 Pilot study - Client impact evaluation
Ofgem, as part of its Social Action Plan commitment, recognised the potential of developing financial services for low-income households and the role that could be played by utilities for mutual benefit. Ofgem commissioned a piece of work carried out by NEA and the New Economics Foundation to ascertain the market feasibility of a Factor 4 approach and subsequently commissioned the pilot evaluation. The Factor 4 pilot was launched in spring 2003 and ended in the summer of 2006.
UK Fuel Poverty Monitor. Fifth year annual report
The UK Fuel Poverty Monitor scrutinises fuel poverty policy and practice across the United Kingdom with a view to identifying best practice and recommending replication in all four countries of the United Kingdom. This is the fifth report in a series and takes as its theme the merits and/or failings of statutory energy efficiency programmes.
Reducing the health impacts of cold, damp homes on those living with long-term conditions - A briefing note for community matrons
The briefing focuses on findings drawn from NEA's Health Champions' programme and the production of the guidance note entitled 'Prevention is better than cure' which includes recommendations on the development of assessment frameworks and services to meet the needs of those with long-term conditions living in cold, damp housing. The briefing note is intended for Community Matrons and is a useful introduction to the impact of cold homes on health, provides guidance on policy and practice developments as well as available sources of specialist information, advice and assistance.
Regional Housing Boards: Promoting Affordable Warmth. An NEA Guidance Note (April 2007)
This guidance note reviews regional housing strategies to assess the extent to which Regional Housing Boards have addressed Energy White Paper objectives on affordable warmth and UK Fuel Poverty Targets, and aims to promote the role of Regional Housing Boards in setting fuel poverty priorities and policy to encourage and support local action. The guidance note also identifies good practice and makes recommendations demonstrating how Regional Housing Boards can take a strategic lead in this area. Please note, this guidance note refers to England only.
Prevention is better than cure
A guide to assessing the risks to vulnerable people living in cold, damp homes through the Single Assessment Process and recommendations for action.
Achieving affordable warmth through Local Area Agreement
A review of the extent to which fuel poverty/affordable warmth commitments were a feature of rounds one and two of Local Area Agreements (not including refreshes) and recommendations for future developments.
NEA/Westcountry Energy Action study trip to Munich
Report to the Parliamentary Warm Homes Group.
NEA Coventry 15th anniversary review
NEA has been active in Coventry since 1991 and this report looks at what has been achieved since then.
Energy efficiency in community buildings
The information in this publication has been based on knowledge gained over 15 years of NEA’s experience of conducting energy audits and installing measures in community centres and village halls. This publication is designed to assist in making decisions to reduce fuel costs and improve the environmental performance of buildings. The text contains technical guides and flow charts and a check list which will be a useful start in the planning process.
Developing a regional approach to affordable warmth: Regional affordable warmth action plans
Regional and sub-regional organisations are in an ideal to develop policy and partnerships to tackle fuel poverty and affordable warmth by providing the link between national policy and local action. This guidance note outlines good practice in the development of regional commitments and actions and also provides a model regional action plan for adoption and replication across England.
NEA 25th anniversary review
This anniversary review records the key milestones and achievements of 25 years of action by NEA in tackling fuel poverty.
The NEA Primary Care Trust Energy Champions Programme 2002-2006 Evaluation Report
The PCT Energy Champions programme has aimed to demonstrate the role that PCTs have in helping to tackle fuel poverty in communities. NEA has carried out a full evaluation of all its previous Energy Champions programme to assess the sustainability of projects and this publication highlights how PCTs may be able to develop comparable practices to make practical use of their own funding to reduce the impact of cold homes on health.
Comprehensive performance assessment - Tackling fuel poverty
This briefing note explores how having a local commitment to eradicating fuel poverty may contribute to a successful outcome of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
Energising Fuel Direct
This report by National Energy Action (NEA) and Energy Action Scotland (EAS) urges the Government to provide additional support for susceptible households who find themselves at risk of fuel poverty.
Improving targeting of Warm Front (Eradicating fuel poverty - introduction, guiance notes 1, 2 & 3)
A series of guidance notes to ensure that black and minority ethnic communities, rural communities, and householders with sensory impairment, are fully represented in Government efforts to eradicate fuel poverty with a focus on Warm Front. The guidance notes will be of use not only to those involved in the Warm Front scheme, but also to those organisations and individuals who work with each of these under-represented groups.
UK Fuel Poverty Monitor - Fourth year report 'Are fuel poverty targets out of range?'
This issue of the UK Fuel Poverty Monitor aims to present a realistically informed view of the fuel poverty problem in the four countries of the United Kingdom; the resources that are at present dedicated to delivering solutions and also what further methods and approaches will be necessary in order to meet future fuel poverty targets.
Responding to health risks in fuel-poor private sector households
This guidance note is intended to be of particular use to those working in the health, social care, voluntary or community sectors who provide services to vulnerable fuel-poor households living in the private sector. The guidance note helps practitioners to identify health risks in homes, provides information on potential solutions; and can be used as a resource to refer householders into sources of further advice, grant aid and assistance.
Health and fuel poverty: Improving health through affordable wamth
A guidance note for Primary Care Trusts, health professionals and local partnerships in the South West area.
Fuel poverty policies and progress - Guidance note for overview and Scrutiny Committees
Local government has a key role to play in ensuring affordable warmth for residents, and an effective and rigorous means of assessing the effectiveness of policy and actions is essential for measuring progress in this area. With this in mind NEA has produced this guidance note, which is designed to assist members of scrutiny committees and local government support officers in designing and implementing a scrutiny process relating to fuel poverty and domestic energy efficiency. Scrutiny committees are well placed to oversee progress on fuel poverty and can readily include questions within key inquiries on health, housing, social and financial inclusion, and regeneration, environment and general sustainability at a local level.