Causes
The causes of fuel poverty are inadequate thermal insulation of the building, inefficient and uneconomic heating systems, low income, and high fuel prices.
Consequences for fuel poor households
Health
The consequence is that millions of households cannot afford sufficient warmth for health and comfort. This can have severe impacts on the resident’s health with increased risks of heart attacks and colds especially for elderly people. Cold and damp conditions are also likely to promote fungi and mould growth which can increase the risk of breathing related illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma.
Domestic accidents including falls and fatalities are more common in cold homes in the winter. Prolonged immobility amongst older people makes it more difficult to remain warm. Where people cannot stay warm in their homes they need to go into residential care.
The burden to the NHS of energy inefficient housing is estimated by Brenda Boardman (Oxford University) to be as high as £1 billion per year. In particular older, long-term sick and disabled people as well as younger children are vulnerable to cold temperatures in the home.
During the months of December to March the number of excess winter deaths recorded well exceeds the average death rate for the remainder of the year. These figures are higher in comparison to other European nations experiencing more severe winter conditions. The Office of National Statistics monitors the excess winter mortality. On average there are 35,000 winter deaths in the UK each year. 31,600 people died as a result of the cold between December 2004 and March 2005.
Excess winter mortality
Source: Office for National Statistics
Social and financial exclusion
Where residents spend long periods of time at home they need an adequate heating regime often increasing fuel bills and leaving less to be spent on other needs, such as a healthy diet. Ill health can lead to absences from work and inadequate warmth results in longer recovery times. Older people are reluctant to invite friends to their cold homes, resulting in an increased sense of social isolation and overall decline in quality of life.
Reducing fuel poverty can help to achieve economic, social and physical regeneration; improve public services; reduce (health) inequalities and develop sustainable growth.
