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Affordable Warmth
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Affordable Warmth forms part of the work on domestic energy in the home covered by the SHAW team. We offer support to people living in privately-owned and privately-rented housing, particularly in vulnerable households.
What is fuel poverty?
Fuel poverty is defined as the need to spend at least 10% of household income on fuel to keep warm. A vulnerable household is one with young children or one with at least one elderly person, disabled person or a person classed as long-term sick.
To maintain an adequate standard of warmth a house should generally be 21°C in the living room and 18°C in the other rooms.
The main causes of fuel poverty are a combination of factors;
- Poor energy efficiency in the home
- Fuel costs
- Household income
- Dwelling size
What we do
We work closely with other Council services, especially those involved with private housing, so that as many people in Sheffield as possible can take advantage of the service and schemes offered.
We also link in with other interested organisations, especially those working to improve health and quality of life, to inform people about the issues and what can be done.
Our aim is that vulnerable households can:
- Lift themselves out of fuel poverty
- Access grants and discount schemes to improve heating, insulation and draught proofing in the home
- Receive information and advice on using energy efficiently
- Remain comfortably warm at home
- Reduce overall fuel bills
- Reduce vulnerability to cold-related illnesses
HEAT Sheffield
We run the HEAT Sheffield roadshow to help spread information throughout Sheffield on avoiding fuel poverty.
Grants
The main Government grant available to alleviate fuel poverty is the Warm Front grant. You can also use the Warm Front grant application to apply online.
Our strategy
Our Affordable Warmth Strategy is attached below. This version is from 2001 and is being currently being updated. The new version will be released this year (2009).
Contact us
If you would like any further information please see the Contact us section for our telephone numbers and email address.
Downloads
Sheffield City Council's Affordable Warmth Strategy 2001 (1.66 MB)
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