NOTTS FIRM URGES ACTION AGAINST FUEL POVERTY
Insulation came top of a list of recommendations to the Government as it was urged to revamp its strategy for helping people pay their fuel bills – and a Nottinghamshire firm has backed the call by reminding consumers to insulate homes now to counteract rising fuel prices.
Westville Limited, from Shirebrook, is at the forefront of insulation technology and is cold-proofing homes nationwide. The company, recently invited to Westminster to join a Department for Energy and Climate Change energy efficiency workshop, called for change as the Institute for Public Policy Research said the extreme cold weather had underlined the need for more urgent help to deal with fuel poverty.
Fuel poverty is where someone spends more than 10 per cent of their household income on heating their home. The Government has a long-standing commitment to ending fuel poverty in England by 2016, but has reported that up to 4.6 million households could have been in this position in 2009. The Energy Bill currently going through Parliament will require energy companies to contribute at least £300m a year towards financial support for their poorest customers by 2013-14.
The problem of fuel poverty has been worsened by increases in domestic fuel bills and the onset of the recession. But in its new report, the IPPR criticised the Government's measures to help people meet emergency fuel needs, and its longer-term strategy to reduce fuel poverty. The think tank's report said the existing winter fuel and cold weather payments, energy efficiency schemes, and energy price support programmes were "not sufficient to deal with the growing problem of unaffordable fuel costs."
The IPPR said the continued problem of fuel poverty contributed to the deaths of 36,000 people last winter – 49 per cent more than in 2007-08. Top of the list of recommendations in the IPPR’s report is insulation – it urges prioritising energy efficiency measures like insulation over financial assistance with paying fuel bills
"During the bitter cold, the obvious thing to do is to turn up the heating at home," said Sean Stevenson, the general manager of Westville Ltd. "But sadly, the proportion of people in this country who cannot really afford to do that is now rising again. Better insulation would mean you wouldn’t have to. Insulation is key in keeping fuel bills down – a properly insulated home needs far less fuel to keep it warm. More than 40 per cent of a home’s energy will escape through uninsulated lofts and walls.
“Simply insulating your loft and cavity walls typically cuts around £365 per year from your bill. Insulating your home now will not only improve its energy efficiency, but will make for a healthier wallet and a warmer winter – vital if we are going to face another winter like the one we’ve just had!”
Westville Limited is spearheading a regional campaign in the East Midlands to get homes insulated against the cold. The company has also been involved at a national level by attending talks in London with leaders from companies and organisations concerned about environmental impact and meeting Kyoto Summit targets.
Sean said: “We are experts in buildings insulation – whatever form that takes. As well as the more widely known cavity wall insulation we specialise in insulating solid walls and this means virtually all buildings can be insulated, whatever their age. For those with solid walls the savings are even greater. Generally, the cost of installing cavity wall and loft insulation pays for itself within just two years.”
Back to the blog listTax Support for Landlords
Landlords can claim back up to £1500 per property in tax breaks, if you carry out Insulation activity on your properties. The Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance has been in place for some time but awareness is not great and it is not widely understood. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndComm...[continued]
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