Affordable warmth not fuel poverty

Kirklees Council together with local partner agencies have developed an Affordable Warmth Strategy to help residents tackle all aspects of fuel poverty.

What is fuel poverty?

Householders who spend more than 10% of their income on energy bills are considered to be 'fuel poor', which means that they cannot afford to heat their home properly. This can lead to them living in cold, damp housing which can cause or aggravate serious health conditions, especially in the old and very young. In Kirklees thousands of households are thought to be living in fuel poverty, exact numbers keep changing as energy prices change but the Kirklees Warm Zone is making a real difference to delivering affordable warmth.

What is the aim of the Affordable Warmth Strategy?

Kirklees Council are working together with the NHS, local and national charities (such as Age Concern and Kirklees Citizens Advice), Yorkshire Energy Services, and local tenants and residents groups. We are working to ensure that all Kirklees residents can afford to heat their home, can have energy efficient housing and will receive the financial support they are entitled to.

The Affordable Warmth Strategy for Kirklees was launched In September 2007 and since then a number of different projects have been successfully launched. One of the most successful projects launched through the Affordable Warmth Strategy is the Kirklees Warm Zone scheme, which offers every suitable home in Kirklees free loft and cavity wall insulation. This is a first in the UK.

Further information about Warm Zone is available from:

• www.kirklees.gov.uk/warmzone
• or by calling freephone 0800 052 0071

More information on the Affordable Warmth Strategy can be found in the:

• Full version of the Affordable Warmth Strategy (PDF: 298Kb)
• Affordable Warmth Strategy leaflet (PDF: 132Kb)

What help is available?

• General advice and information - local services that can help you save energy reduce your fuel bills and improve your standard of living.
• Money - including benefit advice, debt advice and support to help you save regularly.
• Fuel bills - how to get the best deal - find out if you could reduce your fuel bills.
• Health - advice and support to improve your health and wellbeing
• Housing - information about housing grants, loans and home improvements and support for landlords, tenants and homeowners.

How are we performing?

The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) requires every UK local authority with housing responsibilities to submit an annual energy conservation report to the secretary of state. You can read a summary of the Kirklees Council Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 2007-2008 (PDF: 2Mb).