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The Scottish Executive's Central Heating Programme and the Warm Deal Annual Report 2003-04: BENEFITS FROM HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY SCHEMES IN SCOTLAND 2003-04: A REPORT BY THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
The effects of energy advice
Background
Energy advice can help recipients reduce their fuel bills through lowering energy consumption and helping clients to choose the most appropriate fuel supplier and tariff. Energy advice is provided to recipients of both the Warm Deal and the Central Heating Programme. The Scottish Executive provides detailed guidance to the local authorities and Eaga on the scope of the advice to be provided; how the advice is to be provided and who should provide the advice.
Local authorities and housing associations offer it to their tenants. Eaga offers advice to all their clients.
Advice provided under the Central Heating Programme differs from that provided under the Warm Deal in that clients are provided with advice to help them choose the most appropriate central heating system, where a choice is available.
Purpose
Energy advice provided under the Warm Deal and Central Heating Programme has a number of aims:
- to ensure that households can operate their new or existing heating system and feel comfortable in doing so;
- to ensure that they do not incur unnecessary fuel expenditure; and
- to maximise the benefit from the physical measures that have been installed and the investment made.
The effects of energy advice
As energy advice does not influence the NHER rating of the property, it is difficult to quantify the effects of energy advice especially where it is part of a package of measures installed in a home.
However, research by Energy Advice Providers Group indicates that the annual saving to a household, as a result of energy advice, may be around £51 per year, although this included advice on measures that could be installed to improve energy efficiency. 15 The same report also looked at the benefits to those who only changed some aspect of their behaviour as a result of energy advice. 43% of respondents to a survey, who only changed their behaviour, reported lower fuel bills and 55% reported a warmer more comfortable home.
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