Fuel poverty and health – SGSSS Internship

From November 2025 – February 2026, the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel (SFPAP) hosted, Vanessa Kleinheinz, a PhD intern as a part of the Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences (SGSSS) internship scheme. Vanessa joined us from the University of Edinburgh to work on a project focused on understanding the interactions between fuel poverty and public health policy within the Scottish Government. Her report provides vital insights and will help set the groundwork ahead of the Panel’s work on the impacts of fuel poverty on health in 2026/2027. Below, Vanessa reflects on her experience as an SGSSS intern and provides a summary of her findings. The full report will be published later this year.

Internship Experience

I’m Vanessa, and I’m a 3^rd year PhD candidate in Management at the University of Edinburgh. My research focuses on queer stakeholders’ engagement with LGBTQ+ brand activism. Despite my background in business management, I have always felt very strongly about social justice and doing good in the world so I was really pleased when I got an SGSSS internship as I felt I could have a direct, positive impact on people’s lives.

My project explored the ways in which fuel poverty and public health policy interact in the Scottish Government. It was completely unrelated to my PhD, but I was grateful to be able to branch out beyond my normal business focus and gain experience in a different area. This internship showed me that I can adapt to a new research area quickly, and even though it was challenging at times (and I felt a little bit like a fish out of water), I was able to overcome any hurdles thanks to the wonderful team I was a part of. Throughout the internship, the team was supportive and encouraging, answering any questions I had and providing constructive feedback that helped me improve my work. They always made me feel welcome and integrated me into the team very well. Working with them and learning from them over the last three months has been an absolute pleasure, and I am grateful for every piece of advice they shared, which I will take with me going forward. The following provides a summary of my project.

Background

The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel committed to preparing the groundwork for a deep dive on the impact of fuel poverty on public health, as set out in their 2025-2026 workplan. This report contributes to the baseline and is intended to inform the Panel’s understanding of the interactions between fuel poverty and public health policies.

Fuel poverty is primarily discussed through a net zero or economic lens. The impacts of fuel poverty on health are often overlooked in that conversation, despite the well-established link. Cold homes increase the risk of contracting respiratory tract infections as well as the development and exacerbation of respiratory conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also known to cause cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes, and increase the likelihood of trips and falls in the house. Fuel poverty has significant impacts on mental health, causing social isolation, depression, and anxiety. As people in fuel poverty often have to choose between heating and eating, they are at greater risk of malnutrition. Young children, older and disabled people, women, and minority ethnic groups are disproportionally at risk of developing health issues as a result of residing in a cold home and experiencing fuel poverty.

The impact of cold and mouldy housing conditions on health has recently received more attention within parliaments and the media due to Awaab Ishak who died as a result of being exposed to mould in his home, leading to the introduction of Awaab’s Law. The case of Awaab Ishak demonstrates the importance of drawing the connection between fuel poverty, cold homes, and health to prevent further harm.

How do policies interact within the Scottish Government?

The findings demonstrate that there is currently very little interaction between fuel poverty and public health policy. The Fuel Poverty Strategy covers several policy areas, with the focus largely being on net zero and economic factors. Conversely, health has received little attention, with only two out of 55 strategy actions directly addressing health. Energy efficiency measures generally have a direct positive impact on health and are considered effective interventions in addressing fuel poverty-related ill health. However, they can have unintended negative health impacts that need to be taken into account. For example, these measures can increase indoor exposure to radon and other pollutants since improved wall insulation traps polluted matter inside the house, leading to poor indoor air quality and posing a significant risk to health. This problem can be mitigated through the installation of mechanical ventilation systems.

The Respiratory Care Action Plan is the only health policy that explicitly mentions fuel poverty as a significant risk factor for respiratory disease and emphasises the importance of collaboration between the two policy areas to ensure optimal preventative care. The Heart Disease Action Plan does not mention fuel poverty – or poverty broadly – as a risk factor for heart disease. Scotland’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Scotland’s Diet & Healthy Weight Delivery Plan do not explicitly mention fuel poverty, but they recognise poverty as a driver of poor mental health and a barrier to eating more healthily respectively. Notably, the Fuel Poverty Strategy primarily addresses diet and nutrition through universal free school meals in primary and special schools. The Population Health Framework (PHF) does not refer to fuel poverty but supports the contribution of better housing to health, while Housing to 2040 references fuel poverty explicitly and recognises that adequate housing and living spaces can improve physical and mental health.

What are the implications for policy?

From these findings, the following four implications for policy are drawn:

1. Even though the findings demonstrate the occasional overlap between health and fuel poverty policy, it is necessary to integrate these policy areas more closely with each other and foster collaboration. An intersectional approach should be embedded across all areas to ensure more positive outcomes and support.
2. Health data needs to be used more effectively to improve care and treatment. For example, new cases of fuel poverty-related health conditions should be made attributable to fuel poverty, where possible.
3. Staff might not necessarily be aware of the link between health and fuel poverty due to the current lack of integration between these areas. Thus, it is vital that staff working with those in or at risk of fuel poverty receive training on the interaction between health and fuel poverty.
4. It should not be assumed that everyone will be aware of the health impacts of a cold home and the various ways in which symptoms can present. Awareness campaigns on these topics in accessible and inclusive formats will be necessary to educate the public and practitioners. These campaigns have the potential to be useful even for people who do not experience fuel poverty.