Transcript Home Energy Conservation Act National Study

23rd January 2007
Delivering the Home Energy Conservation Act
Feedback to Bridgend County Borough Council
John Scrimgeour
Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
INTRODUCTION
• Mandated improvement study across all councils in Wales under the
2005/06 Regulatory Plan
• Funded by Wales Improvement Board as part of WPI programme
• Consultation with HECA Forum, WLGA, WAG during development
• Study piloted in three councils: Flintshire, Powys and the Vale
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
THE HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT 1995
• HECA came into force in Wales in 1997
• Under the Act Councils were designated ‘energy conservation
authorities’
• The Act provides a focus for council activities in the domestic energy
efficiency field, bringing together housing investment programmes,
environmental issues and ways to alleviate fuel poverty
• Annual reporting requirements to the Assembly on progress in
improving domestic energy efficiency
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Delivering the Home Energy
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WAG POLICY AGREEMENTS
• In 2004 the Assembly Government introduced 16 policy agreements
with councils for the allocation of the Performance Incentive Grant
• Policy agreement 7(b) relates to the percentage reduction in energy
use and CO2 emissions in the housing stock.
• Target is 12% reduction
• Reporting requirements for the policy agreements aligned with
reporting requirements for progress on HECA
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Delivering the Home Energy
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STUDY OUTCOMES
• The findings will inform a national report. Expected publication date
is end of March 2007
• Identify good practice
• Increase awareness of home energy conservation outside the
specific objectives of HECA
• Provide information that will contribute to future arrangements
regarding the delivery of HECA in Wales
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
KEY STUDY QUESTION
In light of progress made so far, are local authorities
likely to achieve further reductions in energy use and
CO2 emissions in the Housing stock beyond 2007?
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Delivering the Home Energy
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SUB QUESTIONS
• Can the Council evidence good progress to date?
• Is local government aware of what needs to be done?
• Is there a will to achieve further reductions in energy use and carbon
dioxide emissions and are realistic plans in place to do so?
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Delivering the Home Energy
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DELIVERING THE STUDY – WHAT DID WE DO?
• Short questionnaire for completion prior to fieldwork
• Examined relevant documentation
• Interviewed key staff and appropriate members
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Delivering the Home Energy
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Sub Question 1:
CAN THE COUNCIL EVIDENCE GOOD
PROGRESS TO DATE?
Answer: Partly
Some areas of good progress but lacks co-ordination and resources to make
bigger impact
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
KEY ISSUES
• The council is not on course to meet the 12% HECA policy
agreement target by April 2007. Current figures to April 2006 were
7.93% for energy reduction and 8.01% for CO2 reduction.
• Between 2005 and 2006 the council achieved a 2.15% reduction in
energy use and a 2.36% reduction in CO2 emission. Since 2006 the
council, has entered into a SLA with the South Wales Energy Advice
Centre and we may assume the figures for 2006-07 are going to be
in the region of 1.5 – 2.5% reduction in energy use making the total
for 2007 of 9.43% to 10.43%.
• It was not possible to make any more accurate prediction as the
council did not have any internal targets or ongoing monitoring
procedure in place.
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Delivering the Home Energy
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KEY ISSUES
• Council has no public housing - target figures are based upon the
private sector (57,000 homes) & the housing associations (7,000
homes).
• Progress has been made to date through various initiatives and
partnerships. HEES funding has been used to carry out a
programme of cavity wall and loft insulation. ‘The Heat Bridgend’
project managed by ENACT (profit making organisation) has been
promoted and provides advice and assistance to carry out various
energy reducing improvement in the private sector.
• SLA with the Energy Advice Centre results in the centre giving help
and advice on types of materials and sources of funding (EEC,
HEES, council grants etc.)
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
KEY ISSUES
• Barriers to progress have been
– Lack of time resources available from the Energy Manager
– Lack of information from some sectors – Heat Bridgend project
managers ENACT do not pass on full information to the council
regarding HECA works carried out. Some internal departments
(housing grants section were mentioned specifically) do not pass
on information on relevant works
– Funding for HECA is only £5,000 per annum which is used to
fund the SLA with the Energy Advice Centre (£5,400 /yr)
– Council has very little influence over energy & CO2 within the
Borough apart from resource and information limited efforts to
raise awareness, provide advice and promote schemes
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
SUMMARY
Progress has been made towards meeting the HECA targets but
has been hampered by the lack of time available for the Energy
Officer to devote to being more proactive and developing and driving
the various initiatives currently being undertaken and investigating
new ones. Lack of awareness on HECA from the council members
(HECA nor reported) and concentration on energy/cost reduction in
council properties. Failure to develop a prioritised action planning
process (due to lack of time resources). Current Energy manager
under pressure and unable to carry out all elements of job
(especially HECA). Funding has been approved for a second energy
post.
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Delivering the Home Energy
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Sub Question 2:
IS THE COUNCIL AWARE OF WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE?
Answer: Yes
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
KEY ISSUES
• Energy management and reduction of energy use is mentioned in a wide
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range of council documents. However the main drivers are the Fuel Poverty
issues relating to health & well being and reduction of costs for the council
in running costs.
Council has a clear Energy Policy which has been approved & which covers
both council owned buildings and private sector housing. This policy sets
out the principles and aims and is supported by a comprehensive action
plan.
Action plan 2006/07 has not been completed and currently consists of 28
operational objectives/actions against 6 Energy Policy Objectives. No
targets, responsibilities, measures, resources or performance has been
identified. At the time of our on-site study it was over half way though the
financial year and unlikely that the action plan would make much progress
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Delivering the Home Energy
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KEY ISSUES
• The Health Social Care & Wellbeing Strategy (HSC&WS) gives as a
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strategic aim to ‘Provide appropriate warm, affordable housing for the
people of the County Borough. Tackling fuel poverty is seen as local priority
The Local Housing Strategy has as a specific local priority: Improving the
condition, suitability and energy efficiency of existing housing. The Local
Housing Strategy 2004 -2009 also highlights the need for the council to
review the ‘situation’ with regard to meeting the HECA targets and sets a
key strategic objective of ‘All households to be aware and act upon the need
for energy efficiency and for all homes in the County Borough to be
energy efficient by 2012’ This was to be achieved by promoting HEES
schemes, improving the energy database (by use of promotional
questionnaires, free home energy checks and SAP ratings.
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Delivering the Home Energy
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KEY ISSUES
• Despite the frequent reference to energy efficiency and fuel poverty
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prioritisation little additional resources have been made available to
implement the actions
Cabinet member for Environment is the HECA champion at member level.
However no HECA information or reports are provided to members and
awareness is low.
The Energy Manager’s direct line manager is on a fee based funding but
has no allocated fee code to use if working on energy issues (in a
managerial capacity).
Limited supervision given to the Energy Manger + lack of work prioritisation,
targets, monitoring and evaluation of work effectiveness. This is leading to
considerable stress, frustration and de-motivation with the postholder (now
left)
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Delivering the Home Energy
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SUMMARY
Fuel poverty, improving housing in disrepair and reducing energy
use are mentioned in several strategies. An energy & water strategy
highlights the key issues and a detailed action plan identifies much
of the work required. However a lack of resources has prevented the
development for the strategy beyond a list of actions and without
additional resources it is doubtful if this plan will get completed in
2006/7 let alone implemented.
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Delivering the Home Energy
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Sub Question 3:
IS THERE A WILL TO ACHIEVE FURTHER REDUCTIONS
IN ENERGY USE/ CO2 EMISSIONS AND ARE
REALISTIC PLANS IN PLACE
Answer: No
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Delivering the Home Energy
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KEY ISSUES
• Likely (awaiting final council confirmation) that a new post of
assistant energy manger may be created very shortly funded from a
£200,000 ‘Energy Loan Fund’ which is designed to fund energy
saving initiatives in council buildings.
• Council has just launched a Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme which
is intended to run over the next 10 years – will cover improvements
to 2,300 houses in the renewal area for external works including
roofs (and loft insulation) double glazing and external wall insulation,
rendering or overcladding as few houses with cavity walls).
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Delivering the Home Energy
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KEY ISSUES
• The total capital grant funding has been steadily reducing and will
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reduce next year to £3 million. At the same time DFG grant costs are
increasing giving an overall effect of less council funding available
for HECA improvements.
The lack of internal HECA funds has prevented external initiatives
where match funding is required with a partner.
An additional problem is that each directorate has to find a 4.5%
efficiency saving in 2007/8.
HEES funding of £732,314 in 2004/5 and £657,278 was obtained
by householders.
Utility suppliers (EEC funds) have provided funding but the council
were unable to provide figures (thus underestimate HECA return)
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Delivering the Home Energy
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KEY ISSUES
• A condition survey was undertaken of the public sector housing in 1997/8. A
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total of 8,300 properties were surveyed at that time although energy
efficiency was not identified as a specific issue
Another survey was carried out in 2002
The council has an opportunity to gather useful information from the
housing condition survey to be carried out in 2007. This information could
be used to help target areas for action (via internal grants and external
bodies) and can inform the Affordable Warmth Strategy and the Health,
Social Care & Wellbeing Strategy (HSC&WS).
SLA with the Energy Advice Centre (EAC) is central the council’s approach
as this organisation is the main link with the private sector in providing help
advice and directing enquiries towards the main (and most appropriate)
sources of financial assistance
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Delivering the Home Energy
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SUMMARY
The council lacks sufficient resources to effectively undertake the HECA role
in the council. The Energy Manager post is heavily overstretched and needs
urgent prioritisation and rationalisation of the expected duties. Direct funding
for HECA is very limited and HECA Policy Agreement Funds have been
used elsewhere. The council have adopted an approach of facilitation and
awareness raising while directing home owners to sources of funding via
the EAC with whom they have a SLA. The potential exists to better
resource, co-ordinate and target action through the affordable warmth
strategy combined with new survey information and additional posts.
Internal funding does exist for improvements in the private sector but this is
reducing and energy reduction while being stated as a priority is in practice
not a key criteria in allocation of internal funds.
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
OVERALL SUMMARY
• The council have identified energy use reduction as a priority
through its links with fuel poverty and affordable warmth. They
have a clear policy on energy and it is a common theme across
most key council documents. The approach is one of a
facilitator and awareness raising in the private sector (as they
have no public housing since stock transfer in 2003) and advice
and information is provided through the Energy Advice Centre
with whom they have an SLA. The EAC puts enquirers in touch
with the various bodies able to help with funding assistance.
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
OVERALL SUMMARY
• HECA target information is flawed and inaccurate as it takes no
account of non assisted private sector improvements and even
some areas of internal information is lacking through coordination between departments and staff resources. The
anticipate HECA figure for 2007 is likely to be around 10% but
in practice this is likely to be a considerable underestimate
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
OVERALL SUMMARY
• In practice the facilitator/awareness raising approach lacks
resources and co-ordination. The officer responsible for HECA
is severely overstretched and has no financial resources to
work with. Line management resource problems prevent the
development of a meaningful prioritisation of HECA work and
even the Energy Policy Action Plan 2006/7 remains unfinished
(let alone implemented). The emerging Affordable Warmth
Strategy offers an opportunity to prioritise and resource the
councils aspirations towards fuel poverty and HECA but even
with this initiative current resources to complete the actual AW
strategy are doubtful.
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Delivering the Home Energy
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Questions?
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Delivering the Home Energy
Conservation Act
NEXT STEPS
• Expected publication of national report end of March 2007
• Share conclusions with the All Wales HECA Forum
• WAO would welcome opportunity to share findings between
councils
• Views welcomed on how that might be achieved
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