Insights using LIFT
We’ve introduced Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data into LIFT
This can help councils apply for energy grants and target support
You can identify families who are in energy-inefficient homes and those in fuel poverty who could make long-term financial savings
LIFT is a data analytics platform that combines data sets to visualise poverty
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) contains information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs. It tells us how energy efficient a property is by rating it from A, very efficient, to G, very inefficient. EPCs are valid for 10 years.
The EPC score includes recommendations for potential improvements to a property as well as a ‘potential’ EPC score based on those recommendations being undertaken.
Data sources
LIFT identifies households in England and Wales by matching the address data in a council’s administrative datasets with EPC data.
This is done by matching properties from your data to a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) which is then linked to the UPRN assigned to each EPC certificate.
Our address data is updated quarterly through our dataset provider.
Successful matches depend on the quality of the data and on having an EPC certificate attached to the property.
If the property only has an expired EPC we will still show the score, however this will be noted on the household’s details when you request a household level report, for example for a targeted campaign.
The EPC scores are available on the Cost of Living Modelling screen in LIFT. There you can find the EPC scores across your authority, the total % of energy inefficient properties and a range of poverty metrics to enable you to highlight groups for targeted activity.
The EPC score includes recommendations for potential improvements to a property as well as a ‘potential’ EPC score based on those recommendations being undertaken.
We will show households that are not on the grid, for example those using bottled gas or a communal district heating system, where made possible through a no answer to sections such as the ‘mains gas’ flag.
Our address data is updated quarterly through our dataset provider. Data is not currently available for Scotland as this is provided through a separate API, however we are working to provide this alongside England and Wales.
Further EPC analysis available
We can provide reports on a variety of areas based on the sections covered within the EPC dataset.
You can find a full breakdown of the information available here but some example reports available could include:
- Households in the private rented sector with an EPC below C and a potential EPC above D (target for efficiency renovations)
- All properties that rely on non-gas sources of energy as they often have higher or more unpredictable energy costs
- Elements that could influence decisions around interventions such as:
- Targeting of discretionary support to households in the most inefficient properties, such as:
- Flats on the top floor with poor roof energy efficiency (may be suitable for loft insulation)
- Single-glazed properties with poor window energy efficiency (suitable for double glazing)
- Properties with a low percentage of low-energy lighting (could benefit from alternatives)
- Properties with oil as their main fuel source (suitable for cash support)
- Properties with residents who are under 5, over 80, with disability and living in inefficient properties that are likely to have proportionally higher fuel use
- Households with arrears living in inefficient properties that are likely to struggle to budget and get into further debt
- Targeting of discretionary support to households in the most inefficient properties, such as:
Challenge
Providing support and tackling poverty in Redbridge, a London borough with a rapidly growing population
Solution
Using LIFT, Redbridge used its administrative data to identify residents most in need of financial aid and targeted preventative support. Collaborative work allows the teams at Redbridge to help residents holistically and build partnerships.
Impact
Collaborating internally and externally minimises the processing time for residents with needs across services.
In 2021-22 using LIFT, Redbridge distributed:
- £1.3 million in DiscretionaryHousing Payments
- £750,000 in Pension Credit take up
- And identified over £2.3 million in unclaimed benefits for residents
Get in touch
Not a client yet?
Schedule a call with our team to find out how LIFT can support your organisation to help vulnerable families, target support to them, and track the change.
You can identify people in danger of crisis before it hits and target support where it will be most effective, preventing hardship. Then track changes to see which of your activities are working.
Our local authority clients use LIFT to
- Tackle problem debt and arrears
- Maximise the income of households
- Evidence return on investment in support
- Identify and support families at risk of eviction
- Avoid unnecessary cost by preventing hardship
- Understand current and future demand for services