SERVICES
Local authorities are key to the delivery of energy efficiency services to households living in their communities. They have a role to play in identifying and promoting good practice in the co-ordination of services to fuel poor households, especially developing one-stop shop schemes, exploiting the potential of the Warm Front, supporting fuel company schemes and Social Action Plan requirements, providing home improvement grants and loans as well as encouraging private landlords to make heating and insulation improvements amongst other things. The new requirement for local authorities to report on actions to address fuel poverty as part of the national indicator framework, coupled with Home Energy Conservation Act responsibilities and other aligned commitments all have an impact on reducing fuel poverty which help to meet targets set down in the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy. NEA continues to develop its services to assist local authorities to provide communities with affordable warmth. Services include:
- Provision of advice and information to authorities which are NEA members
- Providing tailored consultancy services to local authorities and their partners to develop affordable warmth strategies, action plans and services. Each year NEA also offers free consultancy and development support to a limited number of local authorities. NEA can also provide a ‘critical friend’ service to assess progress in eradicating fuel poverty at a local level.
- Offering advice and guidance on technical solutions to cold homes including the use of renewables and other emerging technologies
- Partnering local authorities in the development and delivery of projects such as energy champions schemes, support for scrutiny processes, elected member briefings etc
- Training for front-line staff, policy makers and elected members
- Regional fuel poverty forums which showcase new policy and practice developments
Additionally, NEA has produced a discussion paper, Assessing fuel poverty, which considers different approaches to calculating the extent of the problem in an area. Finding accurate and effective methods of assessment is crucial if schemes to alleviate fuel poverty are to be successful. Knowing how many, and how severely, households are affected can not only impact on the design and delivery of programmes, but also influences targeting and monitoring performance.
To download the discussion paper, click here
For more information on local authority consultancy services please contact Lorraine Donaldson, Operations Manager at NEA Huddersfield office on 01484 223 489 or email lorraine.donaldson@nea.org.uk
For technical project consultancy contact Arthur Scott, Technical Manager at NEA head office on 0191 261 5677 or email arthur.scott@nea.org.uk
For advice on business development opportunities contact Joanne Carr, Director of Business Development at NEA head office on 0191 261 5677 or email joanne.carr@nea.org.uk
Scheme Integration
The Practical help website contains a briefing note and four case studies to guide and promote the successful integration of schemes with domestic energy and/or fuel poverty objectives, combining services or funding from more than one source. These will be of particular interest to HECA Officers and Energy Managers, and all those involved in the management and development of fuel poverty and sustainable energy schemes, which try to extend provision. These documents can be obtained by clicking here.