§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department's Building Research Establishment published the report "An Interim Evaluation of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme" prepared by N. A. Oseland and D. D. Ward; and what are its principal conclusions.
§ Mr. MacleanThe report was placed in the Library of the House on 29 April 1993. The report concluded that176W improvements under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1991–92 gave mean potential fuel bill savings of £39 per annum, although 77 per cent. of the potential energy saving was taken as improved warmth. CO2 levels were potentially reduced by an average of 0.7 tonnes per household per annum, although the actual saving was 0.14 tonnes.
The study also found significant improvements in warmth and comfort, and a significant reduction in condensation problems. Two thirds of those interviewed would not have carried out the work without the HEES grant. Half paid no client contribution, 14 per cent. thought the work had been funded by their local authority. The quality of work was rated as "good", and 75 per cent. of recipients were positive about the scheme overall.