Improving Gypsy/Traveller sites: progress summary

Energy Efficiency

Site tenants often spend considerable time preparing food and bathing in amenity blocks, particularly those with young children. Amenity blocks on sites should therefore meet an appropriate energy efficiency standard. The self-assessment returns show that 18 sites are not currently able to show they are meeting this standard.

Indicator 1- Amenity blocks should meet an energy efficiency rating of band E or better

• Measures that would enhance energy efficiency might include more loft insulation, a highly efficient heating system, introducing low energy lighting, double or triple glazing. Energy efficiency bands are defined in the Standard Assessment Procedure ( SAP) for assessing the energy performance of dwellings and are recorded in Energy Performance Certificates ( EPCs). Band E is defined as a SAP rating of 39 to 54 in SAP 2005-2012.

Six providers – Angus Council, ACHA, Falkirk Council, North Ayrshire Council, Perth and Kinross Council and Stirling Council - report meeting this indicator (although two – ACHA and North Ayrshire - did not provide certificates to support this). They have all provided either an EPC or SAP rating equivalent to Band E or above.

Some providers have stated that EPCs have still to be obtained while others have reported specific issues with producing EPCs. The issues identified are:

• anything under 50 square meters does not need to be assessed
• unable to obtain EPC using current software
• not possible to provide EPCs for non-domestic properties

When developing these standards in consultation with site providers and others the issue of the applicability of EPCs to amenity blocks was not raised. Obtaining a SAP rating should still be possible where the data needed for the assessment can be gathered.

Some providers have been able to provide ratings and have either been able to obtain the ratings without any issues or by making adjustments to the assumptions used to make the calculations. We will consider whether further guidance for this type of property is required.

Some site providers stated in their returns that they have taken action to improve the energy efficiency of their amenity blocks, for example a number of providers have installed different forms of insulation in their blocks. However, a number of residents reported issues relating to energy efficiency. A lack of suitable heating was raised by residents on the sites in Aberdeen, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee, Edinburgh, Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, Tarvitmill in Fife and West Dunbartonshire.