ADR Wales publication compares health impact of Welsh Government energy efficiency schemes
Categories: Research using linked data, Reports, Research findings, ADR Wales, Health & wellbeing, Housing & communities, Inequality & social inclusion
11 October 2019
ADR Wales has today released its latest publication, comparing the health impacts of two Welsh Government home energy efficiency schemes: Warm Homes Nest and Warm Homes Arbed.
The publication, produced by ADR Wales analyst Sian Morrison-Rees, used data from the two schemes linked with anonymised routine health records. It looks at the health impacts of those who received home energy efficiency interventions through the schemes.
The findings
The study is the first to directly compare the health impacts of a demand-led and an area-based energy efficiency scheme, with the findings expected to inform future fuel poverty schemes in Wales. The study found:
Speaking on the publication of the study, ADR Wales Co-Director Glyn Jones said: “This is another example of how ADR Wales has been constructed to directly deliver evidence based insight to evaluate and inform how policies are delivered to benefit the people of Wales.”
You can read the full report on the Welsh Government website.
More about Warm Homes Nest and Warm Homes Arbed
As part of its strategy to reduce fuel poverty in Wales, Welsh Government developed the Warm Homes schemes. The schemes provide home energy efficiency improvements to those most likely to be in fuel poverty, including low-income and vulnerable households. Improvements include home insulation and more efficient boilers.
Warm Homes Nest is a demand-led scheme providing improvements to low-income and vulnerable households since 2011. Warm Homes Arbed was established in 2009 to improve the energy efficiency of homes in low-income areas identified by social housing providers.
The main aim of the Warm Homes schemes is to reduce or eliminate fuel poverty. However, Welsh Government was interested in any positive impacts the schemes might have on the health and well-being of residents.
The Impact on Health of the Welsh Government Warm Homes Schemes is one of a number of pieces of work that ADR Wales is carrying out to evaluate flagship Welsh Government schemes. The report forms part of ADR Wales’ Housing programme of work. In recent weeks, ADR Wales has published work from within its Early Years programme: Analysis of Flying Start outcomes using linked data: emerging findings. It plans to publish a continuation of the Flying start work in late November.