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Age UK launches their Campaign for Warm Homes

25/11/2015

Charity Age UK has discovered evidence that one person (generally elderly) will die every seven minutes from cold related diseases this winter.

The charity has now called on the government to take “urgent action” to protect older people from the potentially deadly consequences of living in cold households with their Campaign for Warm Homes.

Over the last 60 years there have been 2.5 million avoidable deaths among older people in England and Wales because of poorly insulated homes. The problems of cold housing does not just affect pensioners as those suffering from disabilities, poor households and single parent families also at risk.

Current government schemes to help people warm their homes are not proving to be successful. The governments green deal efficiency programme was scrapped in July due to poor take-up and alleged scams surrounding the scheme. The majority of help at the moment comes from the energy companies obligation (ECO). This requires the big energy firms to offer free cavity wall or loft insulation to those on pension credit or who claim various benefits. Local authorities also offer grants to local residents to help them pay for energy efficient measures.

Mark Todd, director of website Energyhelpline, said:
“The help on offer has reduced over the past few years with government cuts to not only energy efficiency schemes, but also to social care with fewer visits to people in their homes, and to benefits. The government has been leaving everyone to fend for themselves, energy prices are still too high, and the funding for these schemes too low.” Abrahams adds: “There is an urgent need for a workable replacement for the green deal and reform of ECOs.”

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