The link between fuel poverty and the climate crisis

On Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, Morven Masterton (Head of Community Engagement and Advice Services) explains the link between fuel poverty and the climate crisis.

Wednesday 27 November is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day. Each year, National Energy Action (NEA) highlights the growing number of people who cannot afford to properly heat their homes.

At Changeworks, we’re very aware of the way unaffordable energy costs and cold homes can disrupt lives. Our Affordable Warmth Service supports over 2,000 householders each year as they struggle to stay warm over the winter. Many of our clients routinely describe how the effects of fuel poverty damage both their physical and mental wellbeing.

Climate change and fuel poverty are often seen as separate problems. Certainly, people in fuel poverty might understandably feel that they have more immediate concerns than national or personal carbon emissions. For policy makers, however, it’s vital to understand just how closely these two crises are connected.

Poor home energy efficiency

Whilst high energy prices are a driver of fuel poverty, statistics suggest they are not the main cause. In the decade leading up to the latest energy crisis, annual rates of fuel poverty still routinely exceeded 25%. This is less surprising than it first seems if we consider the energy efficiency of our housing. Over half of all Scottish homes have an EPC rating of D or below. This makes them some of the least energy efficient dwellings in Europe.

Energy efficiency and fuel poverty

Poor energy efficiency makes it very hard to achieve a comfortable indoor temperature. With heat leaking through the building’s fabric, households need to run their heating for longer to stay warm. In the worst cases, even running the heating almost constantly won’t achieve a satisfactory temperature. In all cases, extended heating periods translate into higher energy bills, pushing a significant number of households into fuel poverty.

Consequently, one of the most effective ways to reduce fuel poverty is by improving the energy efficiency of Scottish homes. By insulating walls, lofts, and floors, and upgrading doors and windows, we can improve a home’s ability to retain heat. With less heat escaping through the building’s fabric, households can run their heating for less time but still achieve a comfortable indoor temperature. This leads to a warmer home with lower energy bills.

Energy efficiency and the climate crisis

With domestic buildings responsible for around 13% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, improving home energy efficiency is also crucial to tackling climate change. This is acknowledged by the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Bill, which, when it becomes law, will set minimum energy efficiency standards and the deadlines to meet them.

Better insulation in homes with gas or oil-powered heating systems reduces the amount of time those systems need to be running. This reduces the amount of CO2 they produce. It also readies the home for Zero Direct Emissions Heating (ZDEH), which works most efficiently when installed in a well-insulated property.

A just transition

The phrase “just transition” is often used when talking about the climate crisis. Whilst it can mean different things in different contexts, for Changeworks a just transition is about moving towards a low carbon future that benefits everyone. This means implementing policies which simultaneously help the most vulnerable and cut carbon emissions. Through the Heat in Buildings Bill, we expect to see clear decarbonisation standards and timelines, together with funding and advice for those who need it most. This would go a long way to not only alleviating fuel poverty, but allowing households to flourish in warmer, healthier homes.

Furthermore, Changeworks backs the call for the introduction of a social tariff to support the most vulnerable people in society. A tariff which offers cheaper electricity will help to both reduce reliance on fossil fuel heating and tackle the endemic problem of extreme fuel poverty.

By recognising the link between climate change and fuel poverty, policy makers can legislate change that serves both people and planet.