Affordable warmth is the solution to fuel poverty. It means that a household needs to spend no more than 10 percent of their disposable income on their total fuel bills in order to be able to heat the home to the level required for comfort and health.
Affordable warmth has been recognised as a vital contributor to the quality of life for residents in Devon and fundamental in helping people participate in the economic and social life.
Nearly one in four (25%) households in Devon is not able to heat their homes adequately to achieve comfort and warmth. According to the Fuel Poverty Indicator (CSE/Bristol University, derived from 1991 Census and 1996 EHCS) 21 wards in Devon feature the ‘worst’ 10% of wards in England. Plymouth and Torbay have the highest rates of fuel poverty among the 10 districts in Devon at 27% each. South Hams has the lowest rate at 20%. Tackling fuel poverty is particularly difficult in rural Devon. Many rural properties do not have access to gas which is still the cheapest fuel for heating the home. Further, people in rural areas tend not to claim the benefits to which they are entitled preventing them from accessing grant schemes for energy efficiency measures.
The Devon Affordable Warmth Strategy
The Devon Affordable Warmth Officer
The Devon Affordable Warmth Newsletter:
