Combat fuel poverty to cut carbon emissions

16 April 2009, 5:07pm

A radical approach to tackling the fuel poverty that is increasingly blighting the lives of millions of citizens is necessary to combat climate change asserts Northgate Public Services in a response published today.

Welcoming the government’s approach to fuel poverty outlined in its consultation document, Amendments to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, Northgate points out that the average home in the UK today has a SAP rating of 48, whereas the average home in fuel poverty has a SAP rating of 33 . It strongly supports the view that promoting energy efficiency and combating fuel poverty are inextricably entwined and that strategies must be aligned to reflect this.

The company believe that the consultation is not bold enough in its approach towards fuel poverty. It argues that there is a strong case for extending help to the most disadvantaged households through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) which currently ensures that at least 40 per cent of the benefits will go to people over 70 and households on low income – the ‘Priority Group’.

Northgate suggests that additional assistance could be provided through one of two ways:

· increasing the overall target of the priority group – for example, to ensure that 50% of the Priority Group receives the benefits of the CERT obligation;

· extending the benefits of initiatives which promote change in consumer behaviour - such as the provision of Home Energy Advice and real time display devices which encourage households to save electricity through monitoring their use of it within the household.home Home

Northgate also calls for enhanced reporting and information management concerning the delivery of CERT. It recommends that information should be drilled down to local government areas so that the impact of CERT can be assessed in the light of other place shaping agendas. This would support further targeting based on the SAP assessment of the property.

Russell Osborne, Managing Director of Citizen Solutions for Northgate Public Services, said today: “We wholeheartedly support the government’s overall strategy of combining strategies to promote energy efficiency and fight fuel poverty. We believe, however, that the government is not being bold enough in its approach as ever increasing numbers of our citizens in local communities are being affected by fuel poverty. Tackling fuel poverty by bold and radical measures is not only integral to building a zero carbon future, it will also help to create a dynamic and innovative energy efficiency market which will provide jobs and a sustainable future for our local communities. “
For more information

Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton 020 7395 1516; 07966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis 020 7395 1518; 07949 421356

www.northgate-is.com

Amendments to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target

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