Warm homes, not the planet30 January 2009
This winter over 5 million UK households are struggling to heat their homes.
Some will have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.
They will be in fuel poverty - defined as spending more than 10% of income on energy.
Britain's leaky homes
British homes leak twice as much heat and power as Nordic countries - costing more for consumers and the environment.
Housing accounts for at least 27% of UK climate emissions, and leaky homes mean higher fuel bills.
Lower bills, lower emissions
Both fuel poverty and climate change can be tackled with measures to 'fuel poverty proof' homes. Measures like:
- Better insulation
Like double glazing, and loft and wall insulation. - Renewable energy in the home
Like solar panels and heat pumps. - Cutting waste
Smart meters that show where to save energy.
The Fuel Poverty Bill
David Heath MP has put forward a Private Members Bill to end fuel poverty. It will make the homes of the fuel poor 'fuel poverty proof'.
Did you know?
20,000 deaths - mainly older people - are recorded each year in England due to cold alone.
The Bill would bring over 6 million existing homes up to the same standards of energy efficiency as houses being built today, saving both CO2 and lives.
Thousands of new green jobs could also be created.
Act now
On the 20th March the Fuel Poverty Bill has its Second Reading in Parliament. To pass this stage it will need 100 MPs in the House of Commons to vote for it.
Make sure your MP is one of them - ask them to back the Fuel Poverty Bill for both people and planet.
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