Report Summaries
Details of reports and resources produced by Eaga-PCT (formerly Eaga Charitable Trust (ECT)) grantholders can be found in Outputs of EPCT [Word Doc] and Project Summaries. In addition, the Eaga-PCT has published a series of reports on some of the projects funded by the Trust. These are listed below.
How to order copies
Copies of these reports can be ordered at a cost of £10 per report, including postage and packing. Orders can be made to the Trust Manager at eagact@aol.com. Payment can be made by cheque on receipt of an invoice from the Eaga-PCT. Please make cheques payable to Eaga Partnership Charitable Trust. Some of these reports may be available via a downloadable PDF file, where stated.
Summaries of reports are given below:
1. Rural fuel poverty: defining a research agenda (2002) by William Baker, Centre for Sustainable Energy.
Summary: Eaga-PCT wants to initiate a new programme of research into 'rural fuel poverty'. The Trust provided funding to the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to prepare this position report to inform the development of the programme. The report addresses the themes of fuel poverty, rural poverty and social exclusion and the adequacy of current anti-fuel poverty programmes for addressing the problem.
The report builds upon a major conference, jointly organised by the Eaga-CT and CSE, on rural fuel poverty. The conference was held in 2001 in central London. It also draws upon the results of a consultation exercise, carried out by CSE, to gather the views of conference participants and other interested parties on priorities for research. Copies of the report are available via: CSE Report
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2. The Heating and Housing of Low-Income Households (1997) by Sandra Hutton, Social Research Unit, University of York.
Summary: It is common to describe the housing and heating of low-income households in stereotypes of inadequacy, but they are a heterogeneous group. Some low-income households live in small modern homes with good insulation and sound heating systems. This report presents background information on the housing and heating of low-income households using data from the English House Condition Surveys (EHCS) for 1986 and 1991 (Department of the Environment, 1993), supplemented by the General Household Survey (GHS) of 1992-93 (OPCS, 1994). The aim of the study was to show how many and which low-income households had satisfactory or unsatisfactory housing, heating and insulation.
3. Making Cold Homes Warmer: The Effect of Energy Efficiency Improvements In Low-Income Homes (1997) by Geoffrey Milne & Brenda Boardman, Environmental Change Unit, University of Oxford.
Summary: The primary aim of this study was to analyse the significance of household temperature in determining the amount of potential energy savings taken back in the form of an increase in the comfort temperature following energy efficiency improvements. If the dual goals of energy conservation and affordable warmth for low-income households are to be attained, the nature of take back must be more thoroughly understood so that the full benefit of energy efficiency measures can be assessed along with carbon/energy savings. This research report examines the results of a number of monitored energy efficiency projects undertaken in Britain over the past 20 years to try to determine the most important influences on temperature take back.
4. Fuel Poverty, Energy Efficiency and Health (1997) by Melanie Henwood.
Summary: During 1997 the Eaga Charitable Trust launched a programme of research on the theme of Fuel Poverty and Health. This background scoping paper was commissioned by the Trust to inform the development of the Trust’s programme of work. The report addresses the main themes of fuel poverty, energy efficiency and health, and considers the current research evidence, which is available.
5. Cold Homes and Health (1997) by Roger Critchley.
Summary: Roger Critchley, Health and Housing Group, was invited by the Eaga Charitable Trust to act as a referee on the first draft of the report Fuel Poverty, Energy Efficiency and Health by Melanie Henwood (see 3 above). Subsequently it was decided to make Roger Critchley’s comments more widely available, in the form of this report, as part of the Trust’s research initiative on health and fuel poverty.
6. Rural Fuel Poverty: A Project in South West Wiltshire to Study Rural Fuel Poverty and Develop Practical Solutions (1998) by Energy for Sustainable Development.
Summary: This study aims to provide information on domestic energy use and energy efficiency among low-income households in an area of South West Wiltshire designated a Rural Development Area (RDA). The study addresses the 'fuel poverty' problem that affects those on low incomes living in energy inefficient homes. Although focused on one area of the country, the study is intended to provide insights, which can be applied more generally, particularly in rural England. In addition to providing information on the present position and highlighting problem areas, the study suggests action for alleviating fuel poverty.
7. Advice into Action – An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Energy Advice to Low-Income Households (1998) by Energy Inform Ltd in Association with Catrin Maby and the Environmental Change Unit, University of Oxford.
Summary: This report reviews the work to date on the evaluation of the effectiveness of energy advice with specific emphasis on low-income households. The context for the research has been the accepted need to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the UK and to improve the living conditions of households which suffer from fuel poverty.
8. 'Developing A Methodology to Evaluate the Outcome of Investment in Affordable Warmth (2001)' by Janet Rudge, Low Energy Architecture Research Unit (LEARN), School of Architecture and Interior Design, University of North London.
Summary: This is a report on a pilot study that aims to develop a methodology for evaluating cost benefits, particularly health improvements, resulting from investment in domestic affordable warmth. This has involved seeking correlations between mapped data relating to low incomes, building characteristics and hospital admissions. The ultimate objective is a monitoring tool for use by local authorities and health authorities and, from the evidence of this pilot study, further development of the methodology appears to be justified.
9. Review of English Local Authority Fuel Poverty Reports and Strategies (2003) by Impetus Consulting and the Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE).
Summary: In January 2003, Eaga Partnership Charitable Trust commissioned Impetus Consulting, working with the Association for the Conservation of Energy, to conduct a review of the fuel poverty reports and strategies produced by English Energy Conservation Authorities (ECAs). Although ECAs have been required to submit reports on their fuel poverty activity alongside their annual Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) reports since 2000, this was the first such review to be conducted.
The objectives of the evaluation were to ascertain:
- The extent to which ECAs are engaging with the issues around fuel poverty;
- Areas of best practice;
- The extent to which performance varies between ECAs; and
- Whether ECAs are making progress towards meeting local and national targets.
The full report and executive summary is available to download [pdf].