Press Release
WARM HOMES
CAMPAIGN
29 November 2007
Lynne Jones MP
Backs National Campaign For Warm Homes
Lynne
Jones is backing a national campaign that aims to highlight the plight of households who are concerned about being able to heat their homes to
adequate levels this winter.
The
Warm Homes Campaign is the annual winter campaign organised by fuel poverty charity
National Energy Action (NEA). It runs through November and is organised in association
with eaga, and supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (in
England).
The
campaign aims to cut the number of excess winter deaths and reduce cold-related illnesses
by raising awareness of the help available to people who cannot afford to heat their homes
in winter.
MPs,
Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly Members around the country are
supporting this year’s campaign.
Lynne
Jones MP for Birmingham Selly Oak said: "I am pleased to be supporting the Warm Homes
Campaign. Fuel poverty is a serious issue and it is vital to help people make their
homes more energy efficient. No one should
have to spend the winter without affordable heat for their home and I want to see an end
to fuel poverty in Birmingham and across the rest of the UK.”
Approximately
one in six UK households are unable to affordably heat their homes. Cold homes affect
people’s health and wellbeing and are linked to cardiovascular illnesses such as
heart disease and strokes, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. The
elderly, families with young children, people with disabilities and others on low incomes
are especially at risk from the dangers of cold homes.
There
are an average 68 excess winter deaths linked to cold homes every year in my constituency
of Birmingham Selly Oak. This year, higher
energy prices could push that figure even higher.
Jenny
Saunders, NEA Chief Executive, said: “For millions of families and individuals,
winter brings poor health, isolation, debt and worry. We believe that this is
unacceptable. The Warm Homes Campaign aims to highlight the effects of fuel poverty and to
offer positive and practical solutions to the problem.
“During the month of campaign activity we will be urging Government to recognise the
effects escalating energy costs have had on fuel-poor households and provide
extra resources to help lift people out of fuel poverty and protect them from any
future increases in energy prices.”
Ashley
Guise, Divisional Managing Director for eaga, said: “With winter deaths
and poor health still being caused simply because people are living in cold and damp homes
this is an extremely important campaign and eaga is only too happy to lend its support. Making homes warmer, dryer and healthier
changes lives for the better and for the long term.”
Anyone
who is worried about their winter fuel bill should call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800
336699 for information and advice on keeping warm in winter. Or for more information about
grants available to keep your home warm, call freephone 0800 3166014.
ENDS
Notes
to the Editor
1.
NEA
and Energy Action Scotland are the national charities that tackle the heating and
insulation problems of low-income households through improved energy efficiency. Fuel
poverty is defined as spending more than 10% of household income on fuel costs. The Warm
Homes Campaign is NEA and Energy Action Scotland's annual campaign targeted at the public
and the country's decision makers to raise awareness of fuel poverty and the benefits of
improved energy efficiency.
2. As part of the Warm Homes Campaign, NEA organises
activities for Members of Parliament throughout England and Assembly Members in Wales. In
Scotland, NEA works with Energy Action Scotland, which is co-ordinating visits for Members
of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish MPs. Between Friday 23 November and Monday 3
December 2007 a range of seminars, events and activities, arranged by NEA and its
member organisations, will involve people on low incomes, energy companies, local
authorities and voluntary sector and consumer organisations.
3. eaga is the UK’s largest residential energy
efficiency provider. The company is a leader in the provision of innovative and
sustainable services, products and solutions that address the environmental, social and
energy efficiency objectives of Government and the private sector both nationally and
internationally.
4. Working in partnership with central and local
government eaga is positioned at the heart of policy-making and front-end delivery of
social and environmental improvement programmes. eaga operates across the UK and in the
Republic of Ireland, India and Canada employing over 3,500 people.
5. eaga was established in Newcastle in 1990 to lead
government funded efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people living in
cold, damp and energy inefficient homes across England. Since its inception, eaga has made
a positive difference to over 5 million disadvantaged households across the UK, by
installing energy efficiency measures.
6. Warm Front in England is the primary source of
grants for energy efficiency improvements for households on low incomes. Warm Front offers
the prospect of lower bills and increased warmth for the elderly, people with
disabilities, lone-parent families and other vulnerable households. For more information
about Warm Front call freephone 0800 3166014. This scheme only covers owner-occupiers and
private sector tenants.
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