Fuel Poverty Action

Post date: 19-Nov-2011 12:30:23

Earlier this year, members of 4c were distressed to discover that an ex-member of our group had suffered an extremely cold winter in an inadequate rented house, which she could not afford to heat sufficiently. This set us off on some research on the problem of fuel poverty. We were shocked to discover that, in 2009, around 21% of UK households were in fuel poverty, meaning that they'd have to spend more than 10% of their income on fuel in order to maintain a comfortable temperature in their living areas. However, we were also encouraged to see the positive impact that insulation could have on these figures*.

We began to discuss this issue with other voluntary groups across Leeds, and soon found that there is a huge amount of interest in this issue, which unites the interests of tacking UK poverty, and tackling climate change. As a result of these conversations, a new network called Leeds Fuel Poverty Action has emerged. We are beginning to take action in order to:

• Improve access of the fuel poor to advice and information about energy efficiency, and grants for insulation, particularly by working with organisations who are already in regular contact with those likely to be in fuel poverty.
• Campaigning for more action from our government and local authority

For more information about this emerging network, please see:

http://www.leedstidal.org/wordpress/initiatives/fuel-poverty-campaign/leeds-fuel-poverty-action/

*Bringing the homes of the fuel poor up to the energy efficiency standards of homes built today would reduce their fuel bills by an average of 52 per cent; and their carbon emissions by 59 per cent, aking the vast majority out of fuel poverty. (Figures from a report by the Association for the Conservation of Energy and the Centre for Sustainable Energy)