Domestic energy efficiency should be designated a national infrastructure priority for any new government, claim groups combating fuel poverty.
Following political parties’ launching their political manifestos, National Energy Action has launched its own.
According to the government, a household is in fuel poverty if spending on required fuel cots is above average and meeting those costs would leave the household below the poverty line. Figures from the government show that between 2003 and 2017 there has not been much progress on tackling the issue as the number of households in fuel poverty has remained stable between 10% and 12% of English homes.
Heart of England Community Energy's community fund has given funds to the Act on Energy charity to combat local fuel poverty. Act on Energy staff do outreach sessions and support to save money on energy, home assessments, and are running a pilot to work with GPs to identify people whose poor health is partly down to fuel poverty.
Maria Wardrobe, Director of Communications at National Energy Action, said: “This winter, thousands of people will fall victim to the cold. It’s invading our homes and causing breathing problems, strokes and heart attacks. It’s making people’s lives stressful and miserable, and preventing our children from thriving.
‘‘But we can cure this. A Government-funded, national heating and insulation scheme would vaccinate our homes against the cold. Giving incomes a boost would also mean that people could afford to switch on their heating and stay warm and healthy.”
The full Manifesto for Warmth can be found here.