Gathering Momentum on Affordable Warmth - Progress over the last 18 months and looking forward to future activity

The last 18 months have seen great strides in progress and achievements in affordable warmth and fuel poverty in the Wakefield District. The Council’s Home Energy Team have built on previous years work to develop a comprehensive and innovative programme of initiatives and schemes that lead the way and are seen as best practice.  

The Team have embraced a strategic approach to fuel poverty; targeting schemes at the vulnerable, developing cross partnership working and applying for outside funding. All of this activity has seen real progress towards the Council’s goal of eradicating fuel poverty and achieving affordable warmth for all Wakefield residents by 2016.

This report provides a brief overview of what has been achieved in the 18 months since April 2006 and what will be achieved over the coming 12 months.

Facts and Figures since April 2006

• There has been a 6.44% improvement in energy efficiency of homes in the Wakefield District
• £3.25 million in Government Warm Front grant money has been drawn in to the District
• 4,947 homes have received grants through the Warm Front grant scheme
• £350k of Council funding has been used for energy schemes
• 560 households have received Council fuel poverty grants
• £116k has been secured from the Community Energy Efficiency Fund for the Wakefield Warm Zone
• £140k has been secured for fuel poverty grant schemes from the Energy Saving Trust
• £420k has been secured from Neighbourhood Renewal through the Local Area Agreement Fuel Poverty Stretch Target
• 1532 fuel poverty referrals generated through the Hotspots scheme from households in the Wakefield District
• 1,379 households have been given energy advice via Home Energy team Hotline
• 38 dedicated energy awareness events and presentations have been given to local groups and organisations

 The full report can be found in 'Downloads' in this section.