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Massive energy efficiency programme urgently needed to tackle fuel poverty
23 April 2008
An effective and comprehensive government programme of domestic energy efficiency must be a major part of the strategy for tackling fuel poverty, Friends of the Earth said today. The call coincides with today's fuel poverty summit organised by energy regulator, Ofgem.
The environmental campaign group - which jointly with Help the Aged, is taking the Government to court over its failure to meet its obligation to end fuel poverty [1] - said that setting minimum standards of energy efficiency for affected households would both reduce suffering from fuel poverty and tackle climate change.
Friends of the Earth's Low Carbon Homes Campaigner, Ed Matthew, said:
“The Government's failure to keep its pledge to end fuel poverty is a national disgrace. Ministers must take urgent action to end this suffering. Too much money and energy is wasted because of poor insulation - effectively heating the atmosphere instead of the inside of a home.
“A massive energy efficiency programme is urgently needed to tackle both fuel poverty and global climate change. The Government must act now.”
Notes
Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged are taking the Government to court, for not doing enough to meet its legal obligation to eradicate fuel poverty. The two charities are campaigning for the Government to develop a far more effective and comprehensive programme of domestic energy efficiency, to simultaneously end suffering from fuel poverty and tackle climate change.
Despite the Government being legally bound to eradicate fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010 and for all households by 2016, nearly 3 million households in England are still struggling to adequately heat their homes. The Government currently estimates that by 2010 there may still be 1.3 million vulnerable households in fuel poverty - nearly the same number as at the time of the Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy in 2001.
Government sued for fuel poverty failure.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
