New research on landlords experience with FITs to be launched on 10th October 2012

Published by Andrew Eagles for Sustainable Homes in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Education, Environment, Local Government

Social landlords throughout the UK installed thousands of solar panels to gain uptake of the Government Feed In Tariff (FIT).  Many associations are still considering how they could take advantage of the current FIT regime. 

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation will launch research exploring the experiences of social landlords with FITs at the national Fuel Poverty Conference on 10^th October 2012 in Manchester. 

Social landlords faced a huge challenge to invest in energy efficiency. FITs provided a new and attractive source of funding. FITs were designed to achieve economic goals by encouraging the use of solar (photo-voltaic or PV) panels.   

The work considers how landlords could make the most FIT or Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) funding and considers implications for wider social goals, such as targeting and reducing fuel poverty.

This research, carried out by Changeworks in 2011/12 involved in-depth interviews and roundtable events with social landlords, a literature review and an online survey of 100 organisations. The work was explored further by action-based research with social landlord staff and tenants.

Tessa Clark, Researcher , Changeworks, commented “PV projects in social housing offered a way to ensure low income households benefited from the FITs scheme, rebalancing the social inequity inherent in the policy. Many social landlords took advantage of FITs, but many others suffered from the unexpected reductions in tariffs and policy instability. This research offers important lessons to both social landlords and policy makers to ensure that the social housing sector benefits more from future energy and retrofit policies.”

Andrew Eagles, Managing Director, Sustainable Homes, comments that “these findings are extremely useful.  One of the findings is that the benefits of PV were significant for low-income households.  It is important landlords learn as much as possible from this research so as to better take advantage of the current FIT and the upcoming Renewable Heat Incentive.  We’re excited to launch the findings at our Fuel Poverty conference.”

Other parts of the research investigated if the benefits of PVs are underestimated.  The time tenants spend in their homes during the day and other factors impact on the advantages for residents.  This is particularly important when considering the role renewables could take in alleviating fuel poverty.

These and other findings will be presented at the Fuel Poverty conference on 10^th October 2012.  For more information see http://www.sustainablehomes.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

About the Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is an endowed foundation funding a UK-wide research and development programme. JRHT is a registered housing association and provider of care services, with over 2,500 homes in York and north-east England.

The two organizations have a commitment to reduce poverty, and if possible, end it. JRF and JRHT work together to help achieve social justice for people and places in poverty by:

• searching out the underlying causes of poverty and disadvantage, and identify solutions – through research and learning from experience.
• demonstrating solutions – developing and running services, managing land and buildings, and supporting innovation.
• influencing positive and lasting change – publishing and promoting evidence, and bringing people together to share ideas.

JRF is on Twitter. Keep up to date with news and comments at www.twitter.com/jrf_uk

About Sustainable Homes

Sustainable Homes was established to help the housing sector move to a low carbon future. Sustainable Homes acts as the secretariat for SHIFT Index and is the leading provider of sustainable housing training and consultancy in the UK. www.sustainablehomes.co.uk 

Sustainable Homes and SHIFT are hosting a fuel poverty conference on 28th September 2012 (London) and 10th October 2012 (Manchester).  The JRF research will be launched at the Manchester conference.

About Changeworks

Changeworks is an environmental charity and social enterprise. We want everyone we work with to be able and inspired to take action that benefits people and the environment. Our aim is to give individuals and organisations practical, expert and impartial support to live and work sustainably. www.changeworks.org.uk

For further information on

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, contact:  Danny Wright, Media Officer

01904 615958              daniel.wright@jrf.org.uk

Sustainable Homes contact:  Andrew Eagles, Managing Director,

0208 973 0420             andrew@sustainablehomes.co.uk

Changeworks, contact:  Tessa Clark, Researcher, Changeworks

0131 538 7954              tclark@changeworks.org.uk