London Borough Hammersmith and Fulham
Home Energy Conservation Act Report 2013
1.
Introduction
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published new statutory
guidance in July 2012 on the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA). It
requires local authorities to report to Government on practical energy conservation
measures that are considered cost-effective, and likely to significantly improve the
energy efficiency of residential accommodation in their area. Progress reports are to
be submitted at two yearly intervals up to March 2027.
This report provides a snapshot of the current housing and demographics in the
Borough, outlines the current trends in domestic energy use, and details current and
planned activity to improve household energy efficiency.
2. Profile of Hammersmith and Fulham
The Borough has an area of 6.3 square miles with a population of 182,500with
80,600 households. It is the 6th most densely populated Borough in the UK. The
population is projected to rise by 2% by 2018.
It has a relatively young population with 37% young adults aged 25-39, higher than
the average for London and the UK. 10% of the population are over 65 which is close
to the average for London. The majority of residents are of working age, between 20
and 50. Unemployment is 4.3% which is very near the London and national
averages.
It is a Borough of contrasts, where property prices and private rents are amongst the
highest in London but yet there are significant pockets of deprivation and the borough
is ranked as the 42nd most deprived local authority area in the country.
27% of our residents are considered to be in poverty compared with 17% in England
and 18% in London. To reflect this, there are 17 designated areas of low income in
the Borough that will qualify for Carbon Savings Community Obligation (CSCO)
funding for insulation works from utility companies.
Housing
The housing stock is generally old with 74% of houses built before 1919, so the
construction is predominantly solid wall with only 16% having cavity walls.
27% of dwellings are houses, predominantly terraced and 73% flats (42% of which
are purpose built).
The table below shows the different housing tenures as a percentage of all dwellings,
taken from 2011 Census data
-1-
Social rented - from Council
Social rented - from Housing
Association
/ Registered Social Landlord
Owner occupied
Private rented
Hammersmith and
Fulham
15.7%
15.4%
35.6%
33.2%
London England
17.1%
9.2%
3.2%
6.1%
56.6%
17.2%
68.8%
12%1
Social housing context
Our Housing and Regeneration department was formed in April 2011 when the armslength housing management organisation returned to the council. Around 13,000
homes are rented to tenants and 4,500 are leased. The vast majority of dwellings are
flats, predominantly in medium or high rise blocks and a significant proportion have
flat roofs, limiting the scope for roof insulation. 72% of windows are double glazed.
There are over 40 different Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) with properties are
active in the borough, representing around 12,000 dwellings. The majority of RSL
properties are owned by a few providers such as Notting Hill Housing Trust and
Shepherds Bush Housing Association.
Private housing context
The privately owned properties are predominantly solid wall construction making
them difficult to effectively insulate. Many areas of the Borough are in a Conservation
Area which makes external wall insulation especially difficult to achieve, along with
the high costs of the work and lengthy payback period
The percentage of the private rented sector is the 6th highest in London and 8th
highest in the UK. Many of these homes are the least energy efficient.
Current performance and trends in energy use
The table below shows the baseline figures related to energy use in the borough and
fuel poverty based on Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) carbon
emissions and fuel poverty data for 2010.
Households considered to be in fuel
poverty
Domestic emissions per capita
(tonnes)
Average SAP rating in the private
sector
Average SAP rating in the council
owned sector
Hammersmith and
Fulham
10.7%
-2-
London England
10.8%
5.6%
2.1
2.1
2.4
53
No data
53.7
74
No data
53.7
Fuel poverty
8,046 or 10.7% of all households are estimated to be fuel poor, this figure has
reduced from 11.5% in 2008 and is slightly below the London average rate of 10.8%
of households, but nearly twice has high as the average for England.
Excess Winter Deaths
This measures the difference between the number of deaths in the population duing
the winter months December to March and the average number of deaths during the
other months of the year. It has been estimated that that there are 20% excess winter
deaths in this Borough compared with London average of 13% and is therefore an
important issue in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Energy consumption and carbon emissions
Energy consumption in housing accounts for 29% of the Borough’s total carbon
emissions. The emissions from homes is in line with the average for London and has
been fairly steady since 2005.
3. Current and Planned Activity
ACTION
i)
EXAMPLE
TIMING
(Where
relevant)
Local energy efficiency ambitions and priorities
The Council's Community Strategy prioritises the delivery of a Cleaner
Greener Borough. There is a commitment to:



Cutting waste and increasing recycling.
Promote energy conservation and efficiency both in its own estate and in
consideration of future planning applications.
Investigate and encourage, where feasible, the use of renewable energy
for both existing and new development.
The council have signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate
Change, in which a commitment is given to actively tackle climate change and
work with others to reduce emissions. To help achieve these aims, the council
have partnered with the Carbon Trust and produced a Carbon Management
Plan which commits the council to a target of reducing CO2 from its activities by
40% by 2016. The plan is managed by the Climate Change Project
Management Board.
The Private Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy for the Borough aims to:

Improve the energy efficiency of private sector dwellings by facilitating
measures to optimise the energy performance of the energy performance of
domestic dwellings using the Standard Assessement Procedure (SAP). This
rates the energy performance of a dwelling by measuring the energy usage
per unit floor area, which allows a comparison to be made between different
dwellings.
-3-
40%
reduction by
2016


Reduce levels of fuel poverty of households in private sector.
Reduce the incidence of excess winter deaths in the private sector
Building Regulations
The current Part L (Energy Efficiency) in the Building Regulations 2010
require that all new homes achieve a 25% reduction of carbon emissions
compared to the 2006 Part L. We ensure that all new such developments
meet these standards where the building regulations application is made
through the Council's Building Control service.The Building Regulations
2013 which are due to be introduced later in the year are likely to tighten
these requirements as interim measures towards the 2016 aim of zero
carbon homes.
Planning
The council’s planning policies aim to implement the London Plan
sustainable energy policies, including a requirement that all new
developments should reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. In
particular, major developments (i.e. those with 10 or more residential
units) are required to implement the Mayor’s energy hierarchy in order to
meet the 2011 London Plan carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets.
Currently this is set at a 25% improvement on the 2010 Building
Regulations requirements, equivalent to meeting the Code for
Sustainable Homes Level 4 in relation to energy use.
The residential led regeneration of the Earls Court and West Kensington
Opportunity Area will result in an environmentally sustainable new urban
quarter. The redevelopment must deliver decentralised energy, including
a district heating network and the use of low and zero carbon
technologies, including renewable energy sources.
Similarly, the Planning Framework for the White City Opportunity Area
sets out how the regeneration of this part of the borough must take
advantage of the opportunity to take a co-ordinated approach for the
provision of energy to the area and address climate change. This
includes addressing energy demand and minimising energy use,
establishing a decentralised energy network and incorporating
appropriate renewable energy sources.
ii) Measures we are taking to result in significant energy efficiency improvements of
our residential accommodation
Green
Green Deal
Deal and
This is the new Government scheme for improving the energy
Energy
efficiency of domestic buildings where a new financing
Company
mechanism will allow a range of measures such as double
Obligation
glazing, solid wall insulation, replacement of boilers to be installed
(ECO)
with no upfront cost. The cost will be covered by the savings
-4-
made by the measures and paid back through the properties
energy bills.
Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
Funding from energy suppliers to support the installation of energy
efficiency measures in low-income households and areas, and in
properties that are harder to treat.
The approach that we are taking with regard to the Green Deal
and ECO is to provide information to residents on the schemes
and distribute as widely as possible throughout the Borough. The
initial focus is on the identification of ECO opportunities for social
housing. The Carbon Management Working Group is considering
proposals from Willmott Dixon and British Gas for providing ECO
funding for insulation improvements to the council housing stock.
ACTIONS
Build awareness of Green Deal and ECO to residents. Working
with Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster to provide tailored
information on the schemes on the council website and leaflets,
including details of other funding available and contact details for
the Energy Savings Trust and various utility companies for ECO
as well as general energy saving advice .
Consider proposals submitted by Willmott Dixon and British Gas
and any other organisations for ECO funding for council stock and
work closely with preferred partner. Private Housing and Health
may link in with these proposals and look to access ECO funding
for a pilot external wall insulation scheme.
Ongoing
By July 2013
By April 2014
Green Deal Pioneer fundHammersmith and Fulham formed a consortium with four other
west London Boroughs in November 2012 and made a successful
joint bid to the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC)
for £54K funding per Borough for the Green Deal Pioneer
scheme. Willmott-Dixon were appointed to run the scheme on our
behalf.
The project has a three-part approach intended to generate
demand for the Green Deal by:

Providing free Green Deal assessments for all private
householders, with the intention of producing 15 full Green
Deal plans. We publicised this widely to residents of the
Borough and private landlords. We have facilitated
Willmott- Dixon in carrying out street by street visits of
selected areas of the Borough to offer Green Deal
Assessments.

Funding works to provide a Green Deal “demonstration
home” with the view to the property being available to
-5-
By July 2013
promote the type of works that can be achieved through
the Green Deal for viewing by other residents and
organisations. We are working with Octavia Housing
Association to create such a demonstration home.
Providing case studies of all demonstration homes funded by
participating councils.
ACTIONS
Follow up Green Deal assessments provided to identify how many
Green Deal plans are produced and look at opportunities for area
based projects.
Produce case studies of demonstration homes and work with
other councils in the consortium to develop web based information
for sharing with other Boroughs and organisations.
Work with Octavia Housing Association to ensure the
demonstration home is promoted to other RSLs and other
organisations and ensure it is available for viewing, along with the
case study.
Working with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)
We have engaged with RSLs that have properties in the Borough
with regard to the Green Deal and ECO. The organisation SE2
facilitated a roundtable event for us in February with RSLs that
have properties in the Borough to explore opportunities for coordination and collaboration. The RSLs reported that they are
taking a variety of approaches to Green Deal and ECO, most are
still exploring their options and are concentrating on ECO funding
for hard to treat properties or in CSCO low income designated
areas.
Other
Council
ACTIONS
Continue to work with RSLs to identify and take advantage of
opportunities for collaboration.
CSCO low income designated areas.
We have been working closely with Willmott Dixon in their
capacity of running the RE:NEW 2 scheme. We identified
particular CSCO areas within wards Wormholt and White City,
Shepherds Bush Green, College Park, North End, Askew and
Addison for them to carry out surveys. Addresses were provided
for these areas. They are actively surveying and this will enable
them to utilise ECO funding for insulation measures.
ACTIONS
Continue working with Willmott Dixon or other partner on this area
based project.
As the management of council housing stock has returned to the
council, the Carbon Trust have recently been requested to provide
-6-
By July 2013
By September
2013
By September
2013
By September
2013
By September
2013
Ongoing
Ongoing
stock
initiatives
a baseline for carbon emissions and scope for improvement, to be
included in the council’s Carbon Management Plan.
Fuel
poverty
We take advantage of any funding that may be available for
energy efficiency initiatives and work in partnership with other
organisations and other Boroughs particularly in the West London
Sub Region to try and achieve these aims.
The consortium we formed with other west London Boroughs
referred to above also made a successful bid to DECC for funding
for a Fuel Poverty scheme and Willmott-Dixon were appointed to
run the scheme:
£140K is available for replacement of F and G Rated boilers for
low income and elderly households Following extensive
promotion, this funding will be fully spent and 35 heating
improvements are being carried out to be completed in June
2013. Willmott-Dixon are also expected to access ECO funding as
appropriate.
By June 2013
We already have formed strong partnerships through the Dept of
Health funded Warm Homes Healthy People project, with local
voluntary agencies and community groups, as well as Age
Concern, Citizens Advice and the NHS. This enables us to
effectively promote any funding available for fuel poor households,
such as the project referred to above. We will continue to work
with them during this year.
ACTIONS
We have set up a database of numerous vulnerable households
who have inefficient boilers who may be eligible for help from
other future schemes.
To strengthen the links with partnerships referred to above,
particularly for other future schemes.
Private Rented Properties
We are aware that private tenants are disproportionately likely to
be in fuel poverty, partly due to the nature of the rented housing
stock. We particularly target the hazard Excess Cold when
assessing rented properties under the Housing Health and Safety
Rating System and take appropriate action, including enforcement
as necessary, to remove any Category 1 hazards.
42 Excess Cold hazards were identified in 2012-13 and we
ensured that 100% were resolved. We expect to identify at least
the same number for 2013-14 again with100% resolved.
Fuel Poverty Training
We have been working with the NHS where they have provided
funding to train front line health workers as well as other relevant
groups in fuel poverty issues and available funding.
Working with RB Kensington and Chelsea and LB Westminster
-7-
Ongoing
Ongoing
we procured the services of the organisation SE2. They have
linked in with the partnerships formed through the Warm Homes
Healthy People project referred to above and have trained
approximately 15 relevant staff in fuel poverty issues...
ACTIONS
We will work with the H&F Health and Wellbeing Board which will
enable us to develop partnerships with various health bodies so
that we can identify cost effective ways of improving residents
health and comfort and reduce the costs of cold related illness...
More funding may be available for this year for this scheme from
the NHS so we hope to continue to work with SE2 on this project
and to train at least 15 relevant staff, subject to funding...
ii) Measures developed to implement street by street approaches
Coordinating ECO funding in CSCO areas
We have facilitated street by street approaches as described
above using Willmott Dixon for the RE:NEW scheme as well as
the Green Deal Pioneer fund.
ACTIONS
Continue working with appropriate partners to take advantage of
any future schemes particularly in CSCO areas.
Review date: 31 March 2014
Submission of progress report due: 31 March 2015
-8-
Ongoing
April 2015
Ongoing