Energy Poverty Survey : the results are out!

We surveyed Friends of the Earth supporters on energy poverty issues. Here's what we learnt.

We recently surveyed Friends of the Earth supporters to get their thoughts on issues related to energy poverty and energy pollution.

Here we share some interesting results from that survey. These results have given us a better sense of what the Friends of the Earth community wants to see happening to tackle energy poverty and energy pollution.

Now we’re working to turn our community’s wishes into a reality!

Some of the key measures we’re calling for to tackle energy poverty and energy pollution:

• Access to retrofitting supports and grants must be improved to ensure those most in-need aren't being left behind.

• Local community advisors should be deployed in each local authority to support households with retrofitting grant applications, and target vulnerable households for grants and supports.

• The private rental sector must be included in retrofitting and renewable heat schemes - Minimum BERs and clear tenant protections are needed urgently. 

• Retrofit all social housing to a BER of B2 by 2030.

• Set an end-date for installation of new fossil fuel boilers from 2027 at the very latest.

• Introduce an Energy Guarantee Scheme, where all households are guaranteed a set amount of energy based on household income and home BER.

During these warm, sunny days, the dark cold winter can become a distant memory for some. But for those who are experiencing energy poverty this reality is still very close to home in how they need to budget their household income every day, even through the summer months. 

So we won't be turning our backs to this problem  - in fact we'll be doubling down on our campaigning to give people living in energy poverty some light at the end of the tunnel.

We know that energy poverty and energy pollution have some of the same root causes - such as dependence on expensive, highly polluting fossil fuels. And that ending energy poverty would have great results for both people and our planet.

Our survey results have shown us that Friends of the Earth supporters feel the same! We'll include some more specific results from our survey below.

Here’s what we learnt from the survey results:

• 87% of our supporters who completed the survey believe that low-income households and those living in badly insulated homes should be prioritised for subsidised insulation and heat pump installation.

• 85% of our supporters who completed the survey believe the Government should go beyond the current universal energy credit and prioritise targeted responses to the energy crisis for things like home insulation.

• 85% of our supporters who completed the survey believe that energy companies, many of whom have made huge excess profits as a result of the energy crisis, should help pay for retrofitting and insulation through taxation on their excess profits. 

• 72% of our supporters who completed the survey believe all households should have the right to a guaranteed basic amount of energy.

 

Our survey has shown us that Friends of the Earth supporters want to see:

• Costs of retrofitting brought down and made more accessible.

• Retrofitting and heat pump supports targeted at those most in-need.

• Companies who have made record profits as a result of the energy crisis paying for retrofitting and renewable heating via Windfall Tax revenue.

• Targeted Government responses to the energy crisis instead of broad, universal energy credits.

Friends of the Earth supporters have told us what they want through the survey - now we’re working hard to make it happen! So watch this space as we continue to develop our campaigning to end energy poverty and energy pollution - in the coming weeks and months we'll be offering different ways for people to get involved and support this important work.