Islington residents have saved an estimated £585,347 on their energy bills thanks to the Seasonal Health Interventions Network (SHINE) programme. The initiative, which supports vulnerable households struggling with energy costs and poor housing conditions, has also achieved significant carbon savings of 906 tonnes across the borough.
The SHINE programme offers a holistic approach, providing telephone-based energy advice, 'Energy Doctor' home visits to install energy-saving measures, and support with fuel debt. It targets households in fuel poverty, defined as spending more than 10% of their income on adequate heating. Beyond low-income families and residents in poorly insulated or hard-to-heat homes, the programme also supports individuals with long-term health conditions. The programme takes a holistic approach, addressing not only energy issues but also related health and social harms, and refers to services that can help with food, benefits, and financial assistance. While specific breakdowns of health conditions are not provided, the 'Healthwise' programme, which is a 12-week initiative for adults with health concerns, lists obesity, anxiety/depression, and high blood pressure as common reasons for referral.
During a meeting of the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee on 13 April 2026, it was reported that since April 2025, SHINE has handled over 2,100 referral cases in Islington, with 1,600 completed telephone consultations. Common energy-efficiency adaptations include LED light bulbs, radiator reflectors, and draught excluders. For example, installing LED light bulbs, a shower head, a shower timer, radiator reflectors, and front door draught excluders resulted in 970 kg of carbon savings. A broader set of measures and pledges can lead to savings of 1.41 tonnes of CO2e. The programme measures carbon savings through the installation of energy-efficiency adaptations and energy-saving behaviour change pledges. For Islington residents, the programme has generated 906 tonnes of carbon savings in total since April 2025, equivalent to driving an average car for over 2.2 million miles.
The 'Energy Doctor' visits have also identified and resolved urgent issues such as damaged electrical plugs and damp and mould, with referrals made to social housing providers for prompt repairs. In one instance, urgent concerns were raised with the social housing provider's repairs team, leading to resolution within two to four hours and two visits. However, a general success rate for all referrals or an average turnaround time is not provided.
The programme is funded through a 50/50 split between Islington Council and London-wide funding, and demand remains high. The SHINE programme is described as a London-wide programme, with service coverage stated to be 'All London boroughs'. Debt cases are becoming 'increasingly complex' and require 'repeat contact and advocacy over the months'. It also mentions that people may need help with debt relief orders or bankruptcy depending on their situation. The programme works with partners like Citizens Advice Bureau and income maximisation services to provide budgeting advice and prevent people from reaching crisis levels.
While specific examples of savings from adaptations are available, such as £441 yearly cost savings from a package of measures, and a total potential saving of £945 per year is possible, an average amount saved per household across all interventions is not explicitly stated.
More information on the SHINE programme can be found in the SHINE Environment Scrutiny 130426.pdf document, presented to the Environment, Climate and Transport Scrutiny Committee. 1
