The Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement
2 Understanding Fuel Poverty
The Causes of Fuel Poverty
2.1 Scotland's climate is different in many ways to the rest of the United Kingdom. Weather in the North of Scotland can be harsh and extreme. On the east and west coasts, weather is milder than in the North of Scotland, but the east suffers cold North Sea winds and the west can be very wet. These conditions make it particularly important that households in Scotland are able to heat their homes adequately.
2.2 Fuel poverty - not being able to heat a home to an acceptable standard at a reasonable cost - is caused by a combination of factors. Three of the most significant are household income, the cost of fuel, and energy efficiency of the home.
Income Low household income is the first major factor that can contribute to fuel poverty. The costs of heating a property form a greater proportion of total income for those on low incomes. The relationship between fuel poverty and low incomes is illustrated in Figure 4 in Chapter 4. Fuel costs Fuel costs are the second major factor that can affect the numbers of people suffering from fuel poverty. Higher prices reduce the affordability of fuel. Prices of different types of fuels can vary considerably, and the availability of different fuels in different areas, and of different types of heating systems, can affect the ability of consumers to exercise choice. Energy efficiency The energy efficiency of the home is the third major factor that can result in fuel poverty. The thermal quality of the building and the efficiency of the heating source determine the amount of energy that must be purchased to heat the home adequately. |
2.3 As well as these three main factors, other variables can also contribute to fuel poverty and its effects. For example, the presence of dampness in homes is often related to energy efficiency, but is also linked to an increased prevalence of bronchial illness and other health disorders.
2.4 Under-occupation can contribute to fuel poverty. It can occur because children previously resident in the household have grown and left the family home, or because a spouse has died or left. There are often good reasons for people not to move to a smaller home, for example, the existence of strong local ties which we know have beneficial effects on people's health and well-being.
2.5 All of these variables can change over time. For example, somebody who retires from work, or who stops work to have a baby can see a fall in their income. Deterioration in the condition of a person's house can cause its energy efficiency rating to fall. Fuel prices change over time, and vary for different types of fuel. This means that fuel poverty is not a static phenomenon. People can move in and out of fuel poverty as their circumstances change, and both our strategy and our methods of monitoring progress must reflect this fact. We are committed to developing our understanding of the groups of households who are likely to move in and out of fuel poverty, and this is reflected in our work programme set out in Chapter 6.
The effects of fuel poverty
2.6 Fuel poverty has a negative impact on individuals, households, and communities. For individuals and households, the main negative impact of fuel poverty is its damaging effects on quality of life and health. The effects are both direct and indirect. Illnesses such as influenza, heart disease and strokes are all exacerbated by cold, and cold homes can also promote the growth of fungi and number of dust mites - often linked to conditions such as asthma.
2.7 Less directly, households that have to spend a high proportion of their income on fuel have to compensate in other parts of their family budgets. This can lead to poor diet, or reduced participation in social and leisure activities, both of which can also impact on health and quality of life. These negative effects of fuel poverty can be particularly significant for vulnerable groups.
The impact of fuel poverty on vulnerable groups
2.8 Older people: older householders are particularly vulnerable to the effects of fuel poverty. The resistance of householders aged 60 years or more to respiratory disease falls at lower temperatures, and low temperatures can also cause raised blood pressure. These factors can contribute to increased deaths from coronary thrombosis and other circulatory causes during winter. The vulnerability of older people to the effects of cold is not just physiological. Older people tend to spend more time in the home than people of working age, and this could also make them more vulnerable to the effects of fuel poverty, although it is also important to note that the relationship between indoor temperatures and ill-health is a complex one.
2.9 People with a disability or a long-term illness: fuel poverty may worsen the ill-health and suffering of those who are disabled or who have a long-term illness. It may make existing problems worse, lengthen recovery times, and may make it more difficult for carers to look after acutely or chronically sick people.
2.10 Young people and children: children are particularly vulnerable to respiratory conditions such as asthma, which have been linked to cold and damp homes. There is also evidence to suggest that cold homes can increase the time taken to recover from other illnesses and this can affect a child's education, leading to them taking more time off school. Overcrowding, caused by families having to remain in heated areas of the home can also adversely affect the education of young people.