With the Energy Crisis set to Worsen, How can IoT help Tackle the Fuel Poverty Emergency?

As energy costs continue to surge, the financial strain on households across the UK is growing dire. Projections indicate that average energy bills could soar to £4,347 per year once the energy guarantee ends, potentially pushing an estimated 11 million people into fuel poverty by the next year.

This escalating crisis poses significant risks to lives, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and low-income households. Older individuals are twice as likely to experience extreme fuel poverty, compounding the health risks associated with insufficient heating. The implications for physical and mental health are grave, with cold and damp homes exacerbating conditions such as heart disease, respiratory issues, and circulatory disorders.

How IoT Can Mitigate Fuel Poverty Risks

The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers housing associations, local authorities, and landlords a powerful tool to combat fuel poverty. By deploying sensor-based IoT systems, these organisations can proactively monitor and manage housing conditions to identify and mitigate risks before they escalate. Here’s how:

1. Proactive Monitoring of Property Conditions

IoT sensors monitor critical environmental factors like:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Differential Vapour Pressure

This data helps identify properties prone to damp and cold conditions, which are major contributors to health risks. Real-time alerts ensure housing operators can intervene early, preventing problems from worsening and reducing long-term repair costs.

2. Supporting Energy Efficiency Programmes

IoT technology provides data that enables targeted energy efficiency measures. For instance, landlords can:

• Identify homes with high energy consumption and inefficiencies.
• Implement insulation upgrades or heating system optimisations where they’re most needed.
• Use analytics to prioritise investments in energy-saving technologies, ensuring resources are allocated to the most vulnerable properties.

3. Targeted Interventions for Vulnerable Tenants

By integrating IoT data with tenant profiles, housing associations can identify those most at risk of fuel poverty and poor living conditions. This enables:

• Personalised outreach to tenants struggling to afford heating.
• Creation of localised support programmes for fuel poverty relief.
• Enhanced compliance with regulations like Awaab’s Law, which mandates action on damp and mould issues.

4. Promoting Long-Term Sustainability

IoT-enabled housing technologies don’t just address immediate issues—they contribute to broader sustainability goals by:

• Reducing energy waste through smarter heating and ventilation systems.
• Enabling predictive maintenance, which prevents costly repairs and reduces energy inefficiencies.

North’s Role in Tackling Fuel Poverty

North is collaborating with housing associations and local authorities across the UK to implement IoT-driven housing solutions. These technologies allow for real-time monitoring of housing conditions and proactive intervention to protect vulnerable tenants. By integrating IoT with localised energy efficiency programmes, North is helping organisations:

• Identify properties and tenants most at risk.
• Allocate resources effectively to maximise impact.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards while improving tenant wellbeing.

A Lifeline for the Energy Crisis

The energy crisis is a growing emergency, but IoT provides a pathway to mitigate its effects. By using data-driven insights to enhance housing conditions and target support, organisations can alleviate the burdens of fuel poverty, reduce health risks, and improve quality of life for millions of vulnerable people.

For those seeking to address this urgent issue, IoT solutions are not just an option—they are an essential part of the solution.