What Downing Street can offer local authorities on energy efficiency

Carolyn McKenzie, Chair of the Environment Board for the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) and Director for Environment at Surrey County Council, knows how central government can assist cash-strapped councils.

Energy efficiency is a critical issue, compounded by the struggle to balance low incomes with escalating utility bills. It’s predicted that the fuel poverty crisis will continue to escalate, meaning more people will be forced to turn down their heating to save money, raising concerns about health and wellbeing, especially among vulnerable communities.

Cambridgeshire County Council ran a quality of life survey in 2023 with 5,500 local residents, which identified two key concerns: climate change and the cost of living. The consequence of both these concerns is that many vulnerable people are turning down their heating and this is having a real impact.

It is a pattern that we are seeing across the country, with many compromising on heating to the extent that it is causing a serious public health issue. The fuel poverty index, based on household income, indicates the severity of the issue and it’s alarming that more people are falling into this category and many more are predicted to do so over the next year.

There are two critical aspects to resolving the issue. Firstly, addressing the immediate needs of those falling into fuel poverty, which is putting additional strain on public services. Secondly, a strategic approach is essential to prevent a growing emergency, as people may fall into fuel poverty over time, depleting their savings.

There are also the hidden costs associated with cold related illnesses in vulnerable populations, leading to increased demands on healthcare and social services. It’s crucial we deal with this problem now to avoid escalating challenges down the line.

Local authorities find themselves at the centre of this complex issue, juggling the needs of their communities with restricted funding. ADEPT, through its Energy and Clean Growth working group, is actively engaged in supporting best practices for local energy planning and participating in forums focused on retrofits.

ADEPT’s manifesto on this sets out the strategic objectives that should be adopted in any future government’s approach to local authorities, and place. Fundamentally, it calls for a commitment to sustainable growth and levelling up.

However, energy efficiency is a much wider issue than simply heating, spanning national grid projects, green industries, planning priorities, levies and taxes related to emissions. Currently, there are a lack of incentives for businesses to transition to energy efficient practices.

There are also significant skills gaps in construction and related industries: consistent funding for retrofitting jobs would unlock potential for economic and job creation. At the same time, it is important we address cultural attitudes toward consumption and waste, focusing on a cultural shift toward energy efficiency.

To bring all of these elements together, a comprehensive strategy is essential to address societal, health and financial aspects of the energy efficiency challenge. Collaboration between government bodies, local authorities and the private sector is pivotal for the success of energy efficiency initiatives, beyond traditional carbon reduction targets, to address these impacts of inadequate energy efficiency.

In response to the escalating energy crisis, the government has introduced funding to address energy inefficiency, including a £1.17billion commitment to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) for public buildings, and an additional £500m budget for local authorities to retrofit low-income households, underscoring the commitment to tackling the issue. The question is whether this is sufficient and if it will make a difference.

We are keen to see:

• Long term, area based delivery and financing approach to retrofitting, with local authorities playing a core role in cutting emissions, tackling fuel poverty, creating demand, and growing local supply chains.
• A planning system and building regulation improvements to enable local authorities to require the installation of energy efficiency measures when owners are making changes to a property that requires permission from their council, and ensure there is adequate funding for building control officers to enforce this.
• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) revisions that encourage the installation of energy efficiency measures in non-listed buildings in conservation areas.
• Support work with communities on energy efficiency to build their resilience to climate impacts.

Images: Riccardo Annandale (top) /Florinel ZONE (middle)