Fuel poverty occurs when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on energy to maintain an acceptable level of heat throughout the home.

Acceptable indoor temperatures have been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 21°C in the living room and 18°C in all other rooms. For older people, higher indoor temperatures are recommended.

Fuel poverty arises as a result of the relationship between household income, energy efficiency of the dwelling, and fuel prices.

People in fuel poverty frequently live in cold and damp houses, and living in such conditions has an adverse impact on health .

People living in cold, damp and mouldy houses as a result of fuel poverty are at an increased risk of:

• respiratory illness;
• increased blood pressure and stroke;
• worsening arthritis;
• accidents at home;
• social isolation;
• impaired mental health;
• adverse effects on children’s education;
• adverse effects on nutrition.

Fuel poverty is also associated with significant debt to fuel companies resulting in financial exclusion for the householder and the disconnection of supply due to unpaid bills. Fuel poverty contributes to deterioration in the quality of houses and to spatial shrink, where householders occupy only those rooms that can be heated.

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has carried out work in the following areas:

• In 2004-2005 we evaluated the Warming Up project. This targeted older people on low income and was jointly led by South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust and National Energy Action (NEA) Northern Ireland. The findings are presented in the evaluation report Life Doesn’t Revolve Around Lighting a Fire Anymore: An Evaluation of the Warming Up Project and Recommendations for Future Action.

• The Institute formed part of a partnership that was developing a fuel poverty action research programme in Donegal and Cork. This research assessed changes in health, energy efficiency and household economy in low income households who have energy efficiency measures installed. Our partners included Combat Poverty Ireland, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Department of Social and Family Affairs, Department of the Environment, Housing and Local Government, Department of Health and Children, and East Coast Area Health Board.

• In 2003-2004, IPH conducted an evaluation of Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone (HAZ)’s energy efficiency scheme, Home is Where the Heat is. This evaluation report is entitled Engaging Communities: An Evaluation of a Community Development Approach to Tackling Rural Fuel Poverty.

• On behalf of the Energy Saving Trust, NEA and the Institute produced a Strategic Review of the Health and Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland for the Energy Efficiency Sector in 2004.

As a consequence of this work, the Institute presented to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs at the Oireachtas in June 2008.  In Northern Ireland, the Institute has been invited to present to the Interdepartmental Group on Fuel Poverty and the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group in May 2008.

Several useful resources on the subject of fuel poverty are produced by NEA Northern Ireland, Energy Action Ireland, Combat Poverty Ireland, and Sustainable Energy Ireland.