[Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath]
Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, who is also Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Energy and Net Zero, has called for greater insulation for homes in Bath after research reveals that a fifth of excess winter deaths are caused by cold homes.
England sees thousands of excess winter deaths each year and, according to the Institute of Health Equity, at least one in five of these unnecessary deaths can be attributed to cold homes. As the South West has the highest rate of cold-related deaths in the UK, Mrs Hobhouse fears that these deaths are exacerbated by rates of fuel poverty and poorly insulated homes in Bath.
Cold homes can worsen poor health such as respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases and hypothermia. The NHS spends billions of pounds each year on treating illnesses that are directly related to cold, damp and dangerous homes. The Bath MP worries that health issues linked to cold homes may be exacerbated in Bath owing to the number of energy inefficient houses in the city. Around two-thirds of homes in Bath are rated EPC ‘D’ or below which means that these houses are particularly inefficient at retaining heat.
While inefficiently heated homes are a huge cause of concern for people’s physical health over the winter, they are also a significant factor in high energy bills. Friends of the Earth has identified crisis hotspots across England and Wales, where communities are at the greatest risk of serious financial hardship as a result of unaffordable energy costs. There are six energy crisis hotspots in Bath, in which residents are paying eye-watering yearly energy bills averaging £2,340.
The MP for Bath finds these figures deeply concerning and has long campaigned, in her role as Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Energy, for a properly funded, nationwide insulation programme to bring down household energy bills and prevent unnecessary deaths over the winter. Mrs Hobhouse recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, to demand that the government permit homeowners to offset spending on insulation against their income tax.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and spokesperson for Energy and Net Zero, commented:
“I am appalled by the fact that people in the South West are losing their lives over winter because of cold homes. These are completely avoidable deaths, yet the government fails to introduce the necessary insulation schemes to prevent them.
“Bath is home to many beautiful heritage buildings, but this historic architecture can mean that it is more difficult to upgrade with proper insulation. This is why we are so dependent on the government providing sufficient funding for much-needed retrofitting programmes.
“Not only are poorly insulated homes causing devastating risks to lives, but people across Bath are also struggling with skyrocketing energy costs. Much of what they are paying for is simply wasted because they live in an energy inefficient home.
“I have called time and time again for the government to undertake an emergency programme to insulate all of Britain’s homes by 2030. We desperately need to cut energy bills and end fuel poverty before more lives are lost to cold homes.”
- All constituency data was collated by Friends of the Earth and can be accessed here.
“I have called time and time again for the government to undertake an emergency programme….”. Perhaps a call to her constituents to conserve energy, whilst being less popular, would be more pragmatic and effective in her well-meaning drive to cut energy bills, end fuel poverty and save lives.
WE, the users, abusers and wasters of heat energy are the real culprits. I walk through Bath’s town centre and almost weep at how our shops and galleries squander energy. Even in my own home, the kettle is filled to the brim to make one cup of tea, every room in the house heated to 22 deg C when only one is occupied, doors are left open, lights left switched on, tvs left on standby.
Ms Hobhouse, conservation like charity should begin in the home.
We may point one finger of blame at our Government, but look down at your hand, three fingers are pointing back at you.
Real Conservation of energy can cost us NOTHING, so why don’t you ask your constituents and commercial outlets to practise it?
Insulation will conserve comparatively little, and is hugely expensive.
The planners are the biggest block to insulating Georgian homes, they won’t allow slim line double glazing, which is unnoticeable to the look of the windows. Window double glazing saves 60% of heat, it is the single most effective insulation measure.