Measuring fuel poverty
BRE is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
On 3 June 2016, BRE published Measuring Fuel Poverty, written by Claire Summers, Jack Hulme and Busola Siyanbola.
BRE has been measuring fuel poverty on behalf of the UK government since the 1990s. The new publication describes the origins and development of the fuel poverty concept, its measurement in the UK, and how it is used to help target those households most at risk of being unable to heat their homes.
The concept considers that households in fuel poverty may be placing themselves at risk by not heating their homes to sufficiently to prevent ill health. To assist these households, it is first necessary to identify them.
The two main measures of fuel poverty are the 10% definition and the Hills Low Income High costs (LIHC) definition.
- The 10% definition identifies fuel-poor households as those that would be required to spend more than 10% of their household income on fuel in order to meet a specified heating regime.
- The Hills LIHC definition identifies fuel-poor households as those with an income below the official poverty line coupled with higher-than-average fuel costs.
At present the Hills LIHC definition is used to measure fuel poverty in England, whilst the 10% definition is used in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The publication explains the development and definitions of fuel poverty, and summarises fuel poverty trends over time. It considers who the fuel poor are, and looks at the reasons for changing levels of fuel poverty. It is intended to provide background to the concept for housing associations and housing providers, energy suppliers, policy makers, energy consultants and academics.
Its contents are:
- Introduction
- Fuel poverty methodology
- Fuel poverty trends
- Fuel poverty at a local level
- Conclusions and the future of fuel poverty development
- References
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- A measure of net well-being that incorporates the effect of housing environmental impacts.
- Adapting 1965-1980 semi-detached dwellings in the UK to reduce summer overheating and the effect of the 2010 Building Regulations.
- Anatomy of low carbon retrofits: evidence from owner-occupied superhomes.
- BRE and Willmott Dixon project to retrofit of a 1920s semi-detached house.
- Building Research Establishment BRE
- Energy companies obligation ECO.
- Fuel poverty.
- Green deal scrapped.
- Heat Energy: The Nation’s Forgotten Crisis.
- Housing contribution to regeneration.
- Poverty.
- Renovation Wave Strategy RWS.
- The cold man of europe 2015.
- The full cost of poor housing.
- The Future of Electricity in Domestic Buildings.
- The real cost of poor housing.
- Transitioning to eco-cities: Reducing carbon emissions while improving urban welfare.
- Well-being and regeneration: Reflections from Carpenters Estate.
- Wellbeing.
Featured articles and news
HSE simplified advice for installers of stone worktops
After company fined for repeatedly failing to protect workers.
Co-located with 10th year of UK Construction Week.
How orchards can influence planning and development.
Time for knapping, no time for napping
Decorative split stone square patterns in facades.
A practical guide to the use of flint in design and architecture.
Designing for neurodiversity: driving change for the better
Accessible inclusive design translated into reality.
RIBA detailed response to Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report
Briefing notes following its initial 4 September response.
Approved Document B: Fire Safety from March
Current and future changes with historical documentation.
A New Year, a new look for BSRIA
As phase 1 of the BSRIA Living Laboratory is completed.
A must-attend event for the architecture industry.
Caroline Gumble to step down as CIOB CEO in 2025
After transformative tenure take on a leadership role within the engineering sector.
RIDDOR and the provisional statistics for 2023 / 2024
Work related deaths; over 50 percent from construction and 50 percent recorded as fall from height.
Solar PV company fined for health and safety failure
Work at height not properly planned and failure to take suitable steps to prevent a fall.
The term value when assessing the viability of developments
Consultation on the compulsory purchase process, compensation reforms and potential removal of hope value.
Trees are part of the history of how places have developed.