Energy Efficient Scotland programme: analysis of delivery mechanism

Fuel poor households

Under the definition set out in the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill 2018^[1], a household is determined to be suffering from fuel poverty if the fuel costs necessary to maintain an acceptable standard of living constitute more than 10% of the households adjusted net income; and if after deducting fuel costs, the remaining income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living.

Intervention

A physical measure or behavioural action aimed at improving the energy efficiency of a building.

Lever

An investment, programme, policy, regulation or law which is intended to result in one or more interventions being undertaken.

Low regrets actions

Low regret actions are broadly recognised as those where associated dis-benefits and relatively low and whose benefits are relatively large. In this context, low regret actions do not refer to the measures to increase energy efficiency and decarbonise heat that are sensible.

Large Commercial Sector

Defined as any commercial business with greater than 250 employees.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)^[2]

Medium - enterprises which are neither micro nor small, which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding £39.28 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding £33.78 million.

Small - an enterprise which employs fewer than 50 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed £7.86 million.

Micro - an enterprise which employs fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed £1.57 million.

Self-funded households

Self-funded is a term used to represent households with higher incomes or greater access to finance than those living in fuel poor conditions^[3]. The improved financial situation of this sub-group is assumed to reflect a greater ability to self-finance (including via loans etc.) energy efficiency measures.