Home Energy Conservation Northern Ireland

Noel Rice

N.I.Housing Executive

21st May 2003

Background

• Housing Executive established in 1971 - Single Regional Strategic Housing Authority

• 26 Local Councils do not have housing remit• Built 90,000 homes• Reduced unfitness from 20% to 4.9%• Sold over 100,000 houses to tenants• Manage current stock of 110,000 dwellings• Invest £45m p.a. in private sector grants• HECA Authority since 1996

NI Energy Market

• One Housing/HECA Authority• One Electricity Supplier (Levy Manager)• One Gas Company• One HECA Advisory Panel• Two EEACs• 4 Govt Departments have an impact;

- DSD (Housing Legislation & Policy)- DFP (Building Regulations)

- DETI (Energy Policy)- DoE (Air Quality/Pollution)

Home Energy Conservation Act

• Operational on 1 April 1996• 34% Energy Efficiency Improvement target - fuel switching

counts towards NI target• No Statutory Enforcement Powers• No Additional Finance Available• Finance works to own stock and partner others to

encourage and, in some cases, fund private sector works• Progress measured in reduced energy use impacts upon fuel

poverty/air quality

DOMESTIC ENERGY USE

• Energy consumption in 1996 was 79,600T/J

• Average SAP in N.I. in 1996 was 41

• Solid fuel was main domestic fuel with oil growing steadily - no natural gas

• By 2001 there was a 13% reduction in energy consumption over 1996 figure

• Average SAP in N.I. in 2001 was 52

HOUSING STOCK 1996 2001

Dwgs % Dwgs %

Owner Occ’d 381,200 63 433,200 67

Private Rented 38,000 6 50,000 8

Housing Exec. 141,200 23 116,200 18

Housing Assoc. 13,000 2 16,100 2

Vacant 29,100 5 32,000 5

TOTAL 602,504 647,500

DOMESTIC FUEL MIX 1991 1996 2001

H.C.S. H.C.S. H.C.S.

% % %

• Solid Fuel 57.9 40.4 18.4

• Oil 19.6 35.7 58.1

• Dual 4.5 9.3 9.5

• Electricity 11.1 11.4 8.7

• Gas (LPG/Nat) 0.5 1.3 4.1

• Vacancies 5.3 - -

• Other 1.1 1.9 1.2

CENTRAL HEATING 1996 2001

LPG 7,870 6,330

Mains Gas 0 20,140

Solid Fuel 183,060 92,060

Oil 215,100 376,170

Electric 52,770 53,960

Dual 56,020 61,510

Other 8,510 5,260

TOTAL 523,330 615,430

NO CENTRAL HEATING

1996 2001

Solid Fuel 60,400 27,100

Electric Fixed 10,330 1,020

Electric Portable 5,170 1,250

Other 3,270 2,700

TOTAL 79,170 32,070

DOUBLE GLAZING

1996 2001

No % No %

Full 147,000 24 302,300 47

Partial 95,000 16 142,800 22

None 360,500 60 202,400 31

TOTAL 602,500 647,500

Cavity Wall Insulation1996 2001

No % No %

Full CWI 219,000 36 324,300 50

Partial CWI 0 0 37,900 6

None 190,200 32 123,800 19

Solid Walls 192,700 32 131,700 20

Dry Lining/Ext 0 0 29,800 5

TOTAL 602,500 647,500

LOFT INSULATION

1996 2001

No % No %

Loft Ins 460,500 76 526,900 81

None 70,000 12 34,700 5

Not Applicable 72,000 12 85,900 13

TOTAL 602,500 647,500

Loft Insulation

No %

Less than 100mm 135,820 26

100 – 150mm 343,520 65

150mm + 22,530 4

Depth unknown 24,990 5

TOTAL 526,860 100

Hot Water Cylinder Insulation

Foam Insulation 137,510 21

Insulation Jacket 417,320 65

No Insulation 72,420 11

No Cylinder 20,250 3

TOTAL 647,500 100

Other Energy Measures

• Draughtproofing; 67% of households had external doors draughtproofed (48% - 1996)

• Low Energy Lighting; 32% of households used low energy bulbs (10% in 1996)

• Average SAP now 52; - 37% score 60 +- 41% score between 40 and 59- 16% score between 20 and 39- 6% score less than 20

Progress to Date - Public Sector• Revised heating policy fully operational with 9,000

conversions per year - £30m• Over 20,000 NIHE dwellings converted to natural gas • Over 20,000 NIHE dwellings now use oil• Extra £18m to remove Economy 7• Double Glazing policy being implemented• Residual Insulation prog almost complete• Solar Water, PV & window demonstrations • Staff training programmes ongoing

Progress to Date - Private Sector

• Further natural gas and oil conversions - over 18,000 dwellings per year

• Cavity Wall Insulation included in Grants

• Various Cavity Wall Insulation Schemes including levy projects and Warm Homes

• Heating Controls Cashback

• Warmth Scheme - natural gas cashback

• Double Glazing (25,000 per annum)

• Annual Marketing Plans

Progress to Date - Other Tenures

• Private Landlords Heating Scheme (250)

• Private Landlords Heating Phase 2

• Housing Association Design Guide

• HA Energy Efficiency Competition

• First CHP scheme in Fold on Falls Rd

• North & West Housing - PV project

• Staff Training in Housing Associations

Progress to date - All Tenures

• Community Energy Plans (Warm Zones)• Pilot schemes to help develop Warm Homes• Fuel Poverty Schemes involving Local Authorities

and Health Action Zones• 13% improvement - 8% in England• Carbon Dioxide savings of 2m tonnes p.a.• £82m saved on NI domestic fuel bills• SAP increased from 41 to 52

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

• Accurate Fuel Poverty estimate- May 2003• Fitness standard Review• Decent Homes Standard• Increased Energy Efficiency Levy - £3.3m p.a.• Extension of Gas network• DSD Fuel Poverty Strategy• Energy Efficiency on agenda of local politicians

and Dept of Health• Partnership remains key