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Tackling fuel poverty through household advice and support: Exploring the impacts of a charity-led project in a disadvantaged city in the United Kingdom

Ramsden, Sam

Authors

Sam Ramsden



Abstract

This article explores the impacts of a charity project which aimed to help people vulnerable to fuel poverty improve their energy efficiency and reduce energy costs, through providing energy monitors and advice at a household-level. The research makes an important contribution to emerging but scarce research on how charities can help households vulnerable to fuel poverty. Interviews were conducted with 40 participants and 32 participants described how the project helped them (through one or a combination of the following): reduce inefficient energy use; switch tariffs; change from pre-payment meters; apply for subsidies for vulnerable people; and/ or improve their confidence to manage their household energy needs. Nineteen of the participants were vulnerable to fuel poverty and fifteen of these estimated that the project helped them save money. While achieving financial savings was the key motivation for participants, 15 households described that they participated in the project to reduce their CO 2 emissions. However, the approach was limited and the impacts could have been increased through energy audits, property-level energy efficiency improvements, and support to raise issues with housing providers. The research argues that household-level face-to-face advice and support can help people vulnerable to fuel poverty and charities can operate effectively in a space between the government, energy companies, local authorities and households to provide this support. However, charities need access to technical expertise, reflexive funding, and effective coordination with local authorities to improve their long-term impact.

Citation

Ramsden, S. (2020). Tackling fuel poverty through household advice and support: Exploring the impacts of a charity-led project in a disadvantaged city in the United Kingdom. Energy research & social science ERSS, 70, Article 101786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101786

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 17, 2020
Online Publication Date Oct 3, 2020
Publication Date 2020-12
Deposit Date Oct 12, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Energy Research & Social Science
Print ISSN 2214-6296
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 70
Article Number 101786
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101786
Keywords Fuel poverty; Charities; Household-level; Advice; Energy monitors
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3632546
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629620303613?via%3Dihub

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