« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
The Scottish Executive's Central Heating Programme and the Warm Deal
Annual Report 2002 2003
Minister's Foreword
This is the second annual report from the Scottish Executive showing the range of benefits flowing from the Central Heating Programme in Scotland in 2002/2003 and is the fourth report on the benefits of the Warm Deal. The two programmes are central to our aim of ensuring that every household in Scotland has a warm, dry and affordable home. In addition there are considerable benefits to the environment with a reduction of 58,038 tonnes in CO 2 emissions.
THE CENTRAL HEATING PROGRAMME
This was the second year of the Central Heating Programme and during the period covered by this report, further advances have been made in ensuring that more and more householders who are over 60 enjoy the benefits of central heating. We continue to build on what was achieved in 2001/2002 and achievements include:
- installing central heating and insulation in over 11,200 houses;
- annual average savings on fuel bills of over 470 for those aged 60 or over in the private sector and savings of over 249 for local authority and housing association tenants;
- reducing CO 2 emissions by 30,710 tonnes, tackling the problem of climate change;
- an increase in the average NHER of properties from 3.5 to 6.8
The main benefits of the programme are vital to the wellbeing of our most vulnerable households: homes are much warmer; fuel bills are lower; and there are fewer damp houses so threats to health from exposure to cold and damp conditions are less.
To illustrate the real difference we have made to people's lives there are three case studies contained in this report.
For instance, Mr and Mrs Crilly only had a gas fire in the living room and one panel heater in the children's bedroom. It was estimated that they would be spending around 633 to heat two rooms. An energy-efficient gas-fired combi boiler system was installed in the Crilly's home under the Central Heating Programme to provide heating throughout the house and to service all their hot water needs. It is estimated that the installation of the free central heating and insulation measures under the programme should save Mr and Mrs Crilly 200 on their annual fuel bills.
THE WARM DEAL PROGRAMME
The Warm Deal continues to build on the success of previous years. Achievements include:
- insulating over 30,000 homes last year, bringing the total number of houses improved under the Warm Deal since it began in Scotland in July 1999 to almost 160,000;
- reductions in annual fuel bills this year ranging from 126 for tenants of private landlords to 30 for tenants of housing associations;
- reducing emissions of CO 2 by 29,949 tonnes, making a valuable contribution towards the Executive's commitment to reducing climate changing emissions; and
- providing 193 long-term unemployed people under the New Deal with quality work experience and training through installing the Warm Deal home insulation measures.
LOOKING FORWARD
The Central Heating Programme is regarded as a major success, and it continues to go from strength to strength. I am grateful to Eaga, local authorities and housing associations for what they achieved in 2002/2003. Although we have committed substantial resources to this programme to date, we regard it as a worthwhile investment, but there is still much to be done.
We expect local authorities and housing associations to spend over 17 million in 2003/2004 and to install central heating in around 6,800 homes. Local authorities will be provided with resources to ensure that by April 2004, all local authority tenants without central heating, who want it, will have a system installed. Eaga are expected to spend around 27 million in 2003/2004 and it is estimated that they will install over 10,000 heating systems.
For the 2 years beginning 2004/2005 Eaga will receive 32.5 million a year and their target is to put central heating into around 24,000 homes. The programme is being expanded to ensure that those over 80 who have partial or inefficient systems at present can have upgrades or replacements.
I am extremely proud to be associated with this programme. The benefits are there for all to see and our ambition is to ensure that no one has to live in damp and unhealthy housing. We are well on the way to achieving that target and we intend to proceed at a rapid pace.
MARY MULLIGAN
DEPUTY MINISTER FOR COMMUNITIES
« Previous | Contents | Next »