South Lanarkshire Council installed external wall insulation in 95 homes over the 2023/24 period as part of the Scottish Government’s Area Based Scheme (ABS) programme.
Changeworks’ Impact Evaluation team was involved throughout the project, collecting data to evaluate how well the measures met the overall aim of the ABS programme – to support fuel poor households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Measures were installed in a mix of privately owned homes and social housing.
What is the Area Based Scheme programme?
The Area Based Scheme (ABS) programme aims to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions by installing energy efficiency measures in homes. By doing this homes should use less energy and residents should experience improved health and wellbeing.
The ultimate aims of ABS is to reduce carbon emissions from homes and reduce the role of poor energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.
We are the largest managing agent of ABS, and have been delivering these projects for local authorities across Scotland since 2013, improving the energy efficiency of homes for thousands of householders from the Borders in the south to Moray in the north.
How did we evaluate the project?
To evaluate the project, the team used:
One survey at the very start of the installation, a second survey immediately after install to gather feedback about the installation process, and a third survey 9-12 months after works were complete. The data from these surveys gives a picture of how people’s lived experiences changed over time.
Changeworks worked with a sample of households to measure the temperature and humidity in the main living spaces of the home before and after measures were installed.
Changeworks compared the EPC created before and after the measures were installed.
Key findings
Our Impact Evaluation team evaluated the installation of these measures via household surveys, monitoring the temperature and humidity of homes and analysing EPC data. Key findings included:
Fuel poverty
- The proportion of households constantly worrying about energy bills fell to zero, compared to nearly a third before measures were installed.
- The proportion of households who found heating ‘unaffordable’ or ‘very unaffordable’ dropped from 60% to 28%.
Home energy efficiency ratings increased
- The average home energy efficiency rating of properties fitted with energy efficiency measures increased from EPC band D to C.
- Band C properties increased from 11% to 63%, while band D properties reduced from 61% to 30%.
Overall comfort of homes increased
- Recommended heating levels were met more often in all rooms after the installation of energy efficiency measures.
- Healthy humidity levels in bedrooms and hallways improved following installation.
What the client said
Sheila Young, Investment Officer at South Lanarkshire Council, said:
“This programme has delivered significant improvements to households across South Lanarkshire and will leave a lasting positive impact on both homes and residents’ lives.
Knowing that a third of households no longer feel constantly anxious about their energy bills, and that fewer people are living in cold, uncomfortable homes, highlights just how vital this fund and its work are. Changeworks has been an invaluable partner throughout, and their expertise and dedication have been central to the success of this programme.”
Ian Cochran, Head of Consultancy at Changeworks said:
“The results from this programme paint a compelling picture of the difference that targeted energy efficiency measures can make. It is particularly heartening to know that a third of households no longer feel constantly stressed or worried about their energy bills, and that fewer residents are living in homes that feel too cold. These outcomes go far beyond the technical metrics and show a genuine improvement in household’s wellbeing.
“Changeworks is proud to have delivered this programme in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, and these findings reinforce just how vital the Area Based Scheme is in driving meaningful, lasting change for communities across Scotland.”
Download the full South Lanarkshire Council ABS report
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