Affordable warmth and energy efficiency

What is 'fuel poverty'?

Fuel poverty is when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its household income on all domestic fuel use, This includes appliances to heat the home to an adequate level of warmth.

Fuel poverty is caused by several factors:

  • inadequate access to information
  • inefficient heating systems
  • inadequate insulation
  • poor housing stock
  • high fuel prices

Fuel poverty can affect anyone but most at risk are; single older households, single younger households, older couples and lone parents.

Healthy Homes – help for those at risk of fuel poverty

The Healthy Homes Hotline - 0808 202 6204 helps people who are having difficulty keeping their homes warm or keeping up with their energy bills.

How to save energy:

  • turn off every unused appliance in your home, instead of leaving them on stand-by, and save £80 a year
  • turning your heating down by just 1°C can save £30 a year - the recommended temperature for living rooms is 21°C
  • each time you boil the kettle only put in the amount of water you need, this will save £20 over a year
  • clothes can be washed just as effectively at 30°C and you will save up to £15 a year. This will also reduce wear on your machine
  • have showers (not power showers) instead of baths and you could save about £40 throughout the year
  • in winter, make sure you close your curtains as this will help to stop any draughts

London Warm Zone

London Warm Zone, working in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea and six other west London boroughs, can also provide grants for the installation and replacement of central heating for private householders on benefits. It will also provide loft and cavity wall insulation at reduced cost to all householders and free to those on benefits.

For more information call 0800 587 2251 or go to http://www.londonwarmzones.co.uk/

Energy Efficiency Grants

There are a range of grants available to help you install an efficient heating system and insulation in your home.  Please contact the Grants Team on 020 7361 3002 or Healthy Homes on 0808 202 6204 to see if you are eligible.

The Council’s Affordable Warmth Strategy was published in 2005 and is currently being updated.

Contact us

If you have any queries, please contact the Environmental Healthline.

Your call is important to us, we aim to have one of our officers contact you within 24 hours.