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Executive Summary
Scottish local authorities submitted their Second HECA Progress Reports in 2002. These reports provided information on both the incremental progress made during the period of April 1999 to March 2001, and the cumulative progress made under HECA since 1997.
From these reports, authorities continued to further develop partnership arrangements to deliver energy efficiency measures, with more than two-thirds having established formal partnerships with other local authorities, community sector agencies and utilities. Further, more work was done to develop policies aimed at taking into account the personal circumstances of households, again, with over two-thirds making a commitment to tackling fuel poverty and targeting their advice and promotional activities at vulnerable households. The greatest change has been in the delivery of direct energy advice that has seen a fivefold increase.
Total reported expenditure on energy efficiency activities rose from £370 million in 1997-1999 to £499 million during 1999-2001, making a total reported expenditure of some £860 million over the first four years of HECA. With the exception of energy advice, the number of installed energy efficiency measures was broadly in keeping with the patterns reported for 1997-1999.
The figures reported for 1999-2001 (with figures for 1997-1999 shown in bracket) indicate that:
- new windows were replaced in 66,728 dwellings (77,420)
- new heating systems (both for the first time, and replacements systems) were installed in 64,847 dwellings (64,678)
- low energy light bulbs were distributed to 38,731 households (44,979)
- draughtproofing was fitted in 36,628 dwellings (40,979)
- loft insulation was fitted in over 39,878 dwellings (27,457)
- cavity wall insulation was installed in 22,072 dwellings (20,026)
- hot water cylinder jackets were fitted in 9,040 dwellings (8,760)
- energy advice was provided directly to 95,833 households (24,054)
- energy efficiency homes visits were completed 21,476 homes (15,819)
- 16,764 home energy survey reports were issued (10,798).
Further measures included:
- 21,977 dwellings receiving packages of insulation measures (25,939)
- 19,156 households benefiting from work under the Warm Deal programme (30,756).
Both the level of expenditure and number of measures reported are likely to under-estimate the actual totals due to the lack of information available on the private sector.
The impact of the reported energy efficiency measures were estimated as:
- an estimated 4.2% improvement in energy efficiency across the Scottish domestic sector during 1999-2001, compared to only 2.86% in 1997-1999, and an overall improvement of 6.9% since the start of HECA in 1997
- households in Scotland being, on average, £36 better off between 1999-2001 and £61 better off since the start of HECA in 1997 as a result of these improvements in energy efficiency
- an estimated 4.7% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions during 1999-2001, compared to a 3.9% reduction during 1997-1999, and an overall reduction of 8.4% reduction since the start of HECA in 1997
- an estimated reduction in SOx emissions of 2,585 tonnes during 1999-2001, and 4,400 tonnes since the start of HECA
- an estimated reduction in NOx emissions of 1,240 tonnes during 1999-2001, and 2,111 tonnes since the start of HECA
- an estimated 12,475 jobs sustained in installation work and 7,129 jobs sustained elsewhere in the economy as a result of the reported investment in energy efficiency during 1999-2001.
The Second HECA Progress Reports have shown that the Scottish authorities can increase the rate of progress towards meeting their agreed targets. Nevertheless, the rates of improvement seen in 1999-2001 will have to continue, if not increase further, if many of the authorities are to meet their HECA targets.
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