Bristol campaigners demand warm homes for all

Bristol Friends of the Earth are calling for home insulation across Bristol and an energy system powered by cheap renewables, to slash bills and reduce planet-warming emissions.

The environmental justice organisation’s United for Warm Homes campaign is also calling for additional financial support for those struggling most to heat their homes.

A petition calling on Bristol MP’s to back a council-led, street-by-street insulation programme has been signed by more than 400 people.

Campaigners Geoff Allan and Katrina Billings calling for warm homes for all – photo: Bristol Friends of the Earth

The measures aim to tackle issues for neighbourhoods where below-average incomes meet high fuel bills.

There are 78 of these ‘energy crisis hotspots’ in Bristol, constituting a third of all households.

Bristol ranks 20th of 331 local authorities in terms of the scale of this problem.

To further add to this picture, Bristol City Council estimated last year that 30,000 households in Bristol are living in fuel poverty.

Prioritising these neighbourhoods for energy-saving measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and thermostatic radiator valves, would reduce bills and increase warmth in homes.

New Economics Foundation (NEF) research for Friends of the Earth detailing a ‘street-level, rapid-response retrofit strategy’, calculated that bringing the worst-rated homes up to standard and prioritising action in areas struggling with energy affordability could save up to £720 annually on hardest-hit household bills.

“It’s almost two years since energy prices first shot up, but we’re still no closer to addressing the root causes of our sky-high bills – heat-leaking homes and reliance on costly gas,” said Geoff Allan of Bristol Friends of the Earth.

“This is thanks to a shocking lack of action from our political leaders.

“It’s not right that so many people across Bristol must endure another difficult winter because of these failings, while the companies getting rich off soaring energy prices and climate destruction go on profiting at our expense.”

The measures would also permanently reduce the climate impacts of Bristol’s housing sector, which accounts for 39% of the area’s emissions – 10% more than transport.

Of 207,140 houses in Bristol, 56% rate D or below on the A-G energy performance scoring system, according to University of Bristol research. 3% are rated at F or below.

Friends of the Earth calculate more than 48,000, or nearly a quarter, of all houses lack adequate loft insulation.

Nearly 9,000 homes a year require insulation upgrades, to meet the government’s target for all homes to meet energy efficiency standard of C or above by 2035.

Just over 4,500 homes per year need to be fitted with heat pumps for the city to meet the Climate Change Committee’s 2030 target of 37,560 heat pumps installed citywide. There are currently 961.

The NEF estimated an England and Wales-wide energy-saving housing programme would cost £15-25bn. Friends of the Earth are calling for this programme to be kick-started using the Energy Profits or Windfall Levy.

“Everyone deserves to live in a warm, comfortable home and have their basic needs met – we hope to unite communities in Bristol under this vision for a better future,” said Geoff.

“To make this a reality, we must see the rapid roll-out of a street-by-street insulation programme in Bristol, prioritising the areas that need it most.

We hope our MP’s will back these vital measures.”

Sign the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ask-bristol-mps-to-take-action-for-warm-homes

Main photo: Mark Simmons

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This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.

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