Affordable Warmth STRATEGY TEAM
What is Affordable Warmth?
'Affordable warmth' is defined as a household's ability to pay for adequate fuel with less than 10% of the household’s disposable income. In November 2008 it was estimated that 70,000 households (1 in 3) in Edinburgh could not afford to heat their whole home to an acceptable standard.
Living in cold and damp homes exacerbates illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and heart disease and contributes to around 400 excess winter deaths a year. Hundreds of people fall into debt or have to sacrifice other things (such as a healthy diet), because they cannot afford to heat their homes.
The three main factors that impact affordable warmth are:
* The energy efficiency of the house
* The high cost of fuel
* A low household income
An Affordable Warmth Strategy for Edinburgh
In 2001 the Warmburgh Unit led the development of the inter-agency document 'An Affordable Warmth Strategy for Edinburgh (funded by Transco and Scottish Power).
The six aims of the Strategy are to:
-
Deliver fuel poverty advice
-
Establish fuel poverty referral systems between agencies
-
Make warmth more affordable by maximising incomes and lowering fuel costs
-
Develop housing policy for all housing tenures to include energy efficiency and to deliver affordable warmth for the long-term
-
Decrease the incidence of cold related illness
-
Co-ordinate delivery of an effective affordable warmth strategy
The Affordable Warmth Strategy Team
The Affordable Warmth Strategy Team (AWST) was set up in 2002 to manage the implementation of 'An Affordable Warmth Strategy for Edinburgh'.
Affordable Warmth Partners
More than 50 organisations have made specific commitments to delivering parts of the Strategy. A list of current partners can be found here. New organisations are welcome to sign up to the partnership.
As an Affordable Warmth Partner
-
You receive assistance from our team in drafting commitments to actions that your organisation can take.
-
You receive support in fulfilling your actions and a certificate acknowledging your organisation’s commitment to Affordable Warmth in Edinburgh.
All plans and commitments are tailored to fit with your organisation’s wider objectives. Examples of how this can work:
Housing providers: commit to ensuring your tenants have clear advice on minimising fuel costs and keeping their homes warm
Community health projects: identify where staff training could reduce health inequalities
Community support groups: encourage householders to access advice on fuel costs, income maximisation and energy efficiency
Events and publications
One of the roles of the AWST is to monitor progress and publish an annual Affordable Warmth Strategy Partners’ Progress Report. Copies of the reports can be downloaded at the end of this page.
In November 2003 the Affordable Warmth partners and a range of other organisations and community groups contributed to a review of priorities and tasks. Ideas from this summit were incorporated into a new document, An Affordable Warmth Strategy Action Plan: 2004 and Beyond
If you are interested in becoming a partner of the Affordable Warmth Strategy for Edinburgh and contributing to its implementation, please contact us on 0131 555 4010or energyprojects@changeworks.org.uk
Or you can write to us at:
Affordable Warmth Strategy Team
Changeworks
36 Newhaven Road
Edinburgh
EH6 5PY
Downloads:
Affordable Warmth Strategy for Edinburgh
First Annual Affordable Warmth Strategy Partners’ Progress Report 2001/02
Second Annual Affordable Warmth Strategy Partners’ Progress Report 2002/03
Third Annual Affordable Warmth Strategy Partners’ Progress Report 2003/04
Fourth Annual Affordable Warmth Strategy Partners' Progress Report 2004/05 (coming soon)
The Affordable Warmth Strategy Team is supported by The City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian and ScottishPower.
