Home Energy Conservation Act
BOLTON 2013

ACTION / DETAILS / TIMING
  1. LOCAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY AMBITIONS AND PRIORITIES

Performance and Achievements / Our current performance is 2.3%[1]CO2 domestic emissions per capita and 19.7%[2]fuel poverty per 114,319households (i.e. 22,515 fuel poor households).
We aim to reduce fuel poor households from 19.7% to the Greater Manchester average by 2016
We aim to reduce CO2 emissions in the housing sector by 2% on 2010 levels by 2020. (Note: 2005 = 2.6%, 2006 = 2.5%, 2007 = 2.5%, 2008 = 2.4% 2009 = 2.2%)
Bolton has the following achievements:
Approximately +60% of houses that are suitable for loft/cavity wall insulation, across all tenures, have been insulated. This is an annual saving of approximately £9M on fuel bills for householders in Bolton, and annual Carbon Dioxide Savings of approx. 36M Kg.
Between the years 2008 and 2012 there were 40,357 cavity wall and 33,005 loft insulation installations.[3]
In 2011-12 over 1,100 private sector properties received energy efficient measures, through local grants and schemes, thus reducing their annual carbon dioxide emission and annual fuel bill. This calculates to an approximate total annual carbon dioxide saving for Bolton of 628,340kg, and an approximate annual saving of over £150k on fuel bills.
Between 2011- 2013 we have secured over £0.5M from DECC and the Department of Health which we have used to fund projects and grants to assist fuel poor residents in Bolton.
We have an Affordable Warmth Referral System, which is part of Bolton’s Home Improvement Agency Bolton Care and Repair, where vulnerable fuel poor residents are able to access free advice and affordable warmth grants.
We have an established Affordable Warmth Steering Group consisting of many established partners e.g. NHS Bolton.
Between 2005 and 2010 Bolton’s Building Control received applications for 15,565 boiler replacements and 1 PV installation. / On going
Activities / Affordable Warmth (AW) Action Plan Summary
Improve awareness and understanding of fuel poverty for residents, in all tenures.
  • To have an annual AW programme of public events
  • To develop awareness of AW through social media and traditional methods
  • Develop and implement an AW behavioural change programme
Increase the energy efficiency of Bolton’s private housing stock.
  • AW programme to link with Bolton’s new private sector housing approach: ‘safe, warm and dry’
  • To assist vulnerable fuel poor residents with domestic retrofit
  • To address Bolton’s “hard to treat” private sector properties
Ensure the co-ordination and development of Bolton’s Affordable Warmth Strategy.
  • Develop monitoring and evaluation systems for the strategy and action plan
/ 2013-18
  1. MEASURES WE ARE TAKING TO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR RESIDENTIAL ACCOMODATION

Green Deal and ECO / Bolton Council is part of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, and is looking at working collectively across Greater Manchester by becoming part of an AGMA led Green Deal Provider.
Green Deal Provider Service
  • Scheme approved across AGMA Nov 2012
ECO– we will participate in an AGMA led delivery partnership which will see all 10 local authorities procuring a list of local recommended providers. Referrals will be sourced locally through Bolton’s Affordable Warmth Steering Group and AW Referral System. ECO referrals will be directed through to the Greater Manchester Energy Advice Service /
Scheme to be launched 2014
Jan 2013-April 2014
Fuel Poverty / Maximise resources and opportunities for tackling fuel poverty
  • Maximise partnership working
  • Develop and implement a communications and marketing plan
  • Utilisation of free resources and application for additional funds
Maintain and develop Bolton’s Affordable Warmth Referral System, which is delivered by Bolton’s Home Improvement Agency, Bolton Care and Repair.Through this system fuel poor residents are advised and assessed for grants and income maximisation.
  • Develop Bolton’s AW referral system
  • Data task group to be established
  • Development of an AW training programme for professionals
  • To increase awareness of the health issues related to fuel poverty
/ 2013-18
Zero Carbon Homes / To help ensure all new homes are zero carbon from 2016, the Council is intending to publish a Supplementary Planning Document on sustainable design and construction which will provide guidance for local developers to help them meet this target. The Supplementary Planning Document will build upon Bolton’s Core Strategy, adopted 2 March 2011, which provides the policy context for working towards minimising energy requirements and improving energy efficiency within new development.
As part of the roadmap to achieving zero carbon homes, since 2011 the Core Strategy has required that proposals of 5 or more dwellings should achieve level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and to additionally incorporate decentralised, renewable or low carbon energy sources to reduce CO2 emissions of predicted regulated and unregulated energy use by at least 10%. / On going
Minimum standards in the private rented sector / We are working with local landlords to promote schemes such as Green Deal, Local Fuel Poverty Schemes via the following methods:
  • Attendance at Council led Landlords Forums
  • Information distributed via Landlords Bulletins
/ On going
  1. MEASURES WE PROPOSE TO COST EFFECTIVELEY DELIVER ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL ACCOMODATION BY USING AREA BASED ROLL OUT

Stock Data / We are working towards improving our private sector stock data base.
  • Map areas of low decency standards and use this data to target fuel poor residents
  • Develop data base
  • Monitor data
/ 2013/14 then annual
2013
on-going
Private Sector Renewal / Bolton is developing a new private sector housing approach: ‘safe, warm and dry’.
  • Through this approach private sector houses of low decency levels will be identified and offered a range of home improvement services including energy efficient measures
/ 2013-17
  1. TIME FRAME DELIVERY AND NATIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERS

Delivery / We are working with:
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to deliver:
  • Green Deal
  • ECO
Bolton Care and Repair to deliver:
  • Bolton’s own local grants and initiatives, including free advice for fuel poor residents.
/ On going
Partners / Our partners are:-
Delivery
  • Association of Greater Manchester Authorities
  • Greater Manchester Energy Advice Service
  • Bolton Care and Repair
  • Bolton’s Affordable Warmth Steering Group
  • Bolton Community Homes
  • NHS Bolton
/ On going

1

[1] CO2 Emissions per capita Accessed 20.02.2013

[2] Fuel Poverty Statistics Accessed 20.02.2013

[3] Accessed 22.03.2013