The Energy Savers is supporting Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2011, a national campaign which aims to raise awareness of the detrimental effects that living in a cold home can have on people's health.
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, run by the charity National Energy Action (NEA), takes place on 11th February and has received backing from high profile health professional Dr Miriam Stoppard, Energy and Climate Change Minister, Charles Hendry and First Minister for Wales, The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones.
Having just experienced the most severe winter since records began over 100 years ago, the campaign aims to draw attention to the health problems caused by living in a cold, damp home, and the importance of ‘fuel poverty proofing' through insulation measures and energy efficiency to ensure protection against future cold weather and the increasing cost of energy.
Mark Huelin Managing Director for The Energy Savers, said: Householders are growing increasingly concerned with the costs involved in heating their homes with many turning their heating off in an effort to stay out of debt, risking their health and wellbeing in doing so.
"Living in a cold damp home can lead to extremely poor health, and exacerbate conditions such as respiratory and coronary problems, especially in those who are vulnerable such as older people, young children whose immune systems have not yet fully developed, and those with long terms sickness and disabilities.
"Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is about acknowledging the issues, helping people to understand the links between fuel poverty and poor health, and making them aware of the different ways in which they can fuel poverty proof their future.
"The most important message is that there is help out there for vulnerable households. I urge everyone who is concerned about their fuel bill to contact their energy supplier or to call the Home
Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 to access help and advice on staying warm when it is cold without the fear of fuel debt and ill health."
Commenting about the importance of the campaign, Charles Hendry, Energy and Climate Change Minister said: "The Government recognises the need to help low income and vulnerable groups keep their homes warm at an affordable cost and the vital health benefits this can bring which is why I welcome and support NEA's Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.
"A key part of the solution is improved energy efficiency of the UK's housing stock. Through the Green Deal and the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) we will ensure resources are focused on fuel poor households in conventional properties and to fuel poor households occupying hard to treat dwellings".
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. Fuel Poverty Awareness Day takes place on 11th February 2011 and aims to raise awareness of the issue of health and cold weather and point people to places where they can get help and support
2. Excess winter mortality is calculated as winter deaths (deaths occurring through December to March) minus the average of non-winter deaths (April to July of the current year and August to November of the previous year).
3. The Home Heat Helpline is a free, not for profit phone line set up to help British energy customers who are struggling to pay their fuel bill and keep warm. The Home Heat Helpline was launched by the Energy Retail Association in October 2005 and has become a cornerstone service for low-income households in urgent need of heating help and advice 0800 33 66 99
4. Cold and damp homes affect people's health and wellbeing and are linked to serious cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. The elderly, young children and people with people with disabilities are particularly at risk. There were over 40,000 excess winter deaths linked to cold homes in 2008-09 in the UK. This number dropped to 26,000 through 2009-10 but ONS figures indicate that the number of EWD from the winter of 2010-11 may well be higher.
5. Fuel Poverty is defined as the need to spend over 10% of household income on fuel costs to maintain adequate warmth for health and comfort.
6. NEA is the leading Fuel Poverty charity campaigning for affordable warmth in the homes of vulnerable people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For further details visit http://www.nea.org.uk
Date: 10th February 2011
Embargo: Immediate Release
Press Enquiries: Lesley Tudor-Snodin, Press Officer at NEA on 0191 261 5677 or e-mail LTS@nea.org.uk