Liberal Democrat Home energy plans would mean cheaper bills in Woking
PLANS by the Liberal Democrats to massively increase the energy efficiency of all homes will lead to big savings in energy bills, say Liberal Democrats in Woking
In a message to local residents, campaigner Rosie Sharpley has backed the plans to raise the standard of home energy efficiency.
"The energy efficiency standards of 99 out of every 100 homes fall well below what they should be," said Rosie. "Nearly every one of us is spending money on bills to heat the great outdoors as so much energy escapes from our homes.
"We want to bring home energy efficiency up to the highest level possible. In the past year, fuel bills have gone through the roof. But too often, our heat is escaping through the roof as well. Our plans will put an end to that.
"By cutting energy waste, we are also cutting the damage we do to the environment. It's a win-win situation: lower fuel bills and fewer emissions that are leading to climate change that has given us extreme weather."
The Liberal Democrats' plans include requiring energy companies to use some of the £9 billion profit they have made from emissions trading to insulate the homes of the poorest residents.
They will also set up a National Green Loans scheme which will pay for a complete overhaul of the energy efficiency of people's homes. Repayments will be added to energy bills with the loan paid off from the savings in energy use. Loan repayments will not be allowed to be more than the savings.
"This is a great idea for helping people to cut their energy bills and help us save the planet," said Rosie.
She has campaigned within Woking Borough Council on this issue since 2003 when she put a Notice of Motion to the Council highlighting actions the Council could take to alleviate the affects of cold building on the excellent reputation Woking had attained in relation to Energy Efficiency. This was supported by councillors at the time which made the decision by the Conservative Executive to raise heating charges for tenants by 60% on December 1st 2008, throwing many residents back into fuel poverty, "a shocking affair". Every effort has been made to try and reverse this awful decision but to no effect.
The Lib Dems on the Council have called for an undertaking that heating charges will not go up again next year and that people's bills should be adjusted down as energy prices come down. In reality all the Council has to do is fit meters in tenant's accommodation so that they only pay for what they actually use and early action on this is essential. Rosie states that the actions of the Council in recent months have flown in the face of the commitment given to support her Notice of Motion in 2003.
"It is staggering when you stop to consider that a significant number of people die or become ill due to the cold each winter. The principal effects of fuel poverty are health related. The most emotive and highly publicised representation of fuel poverty is that of the pensioner suffering from hypothermia. However in stark clinical terms actual cases of hypothermia death are comparatively rare, (250-350 per year) of greater significance is the instance of cold related illness. Cold homes have been shown to exacerbate existing illness such as asthma, and reduce resistance to respiratory illness such as influenza, pneumonia and bronchitis; the risk of heart attack, stroke and other circulatory conditions is also increased by cold conditions at home. The result is an extra 30,000- 40,000 excess winter deaths a year in the UK . Sadly many vulnerable people in our Borough have to take a decision between Heating and Eating and for those who have to pay for prescriptions the choice is between, Heating, Eating and staying well. The Liberal Democrats locally and nationally will continue to campaign on this issue. The most vulnerable will not be forgotten."
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