14 June 2007
National Energy Action (NEA), a fuel poverty charity, has declared that more must be done to help Londoners who are struggling to heat and light their homes.
Its comments arrive ahead of the Lights Out London campaign, spear-headed by Capital Radio, which will ask all Londoners to turn off their light switches between 21:00 and 22:00 on June 21st.
While NEA has said it supports the reasons behind the drive - namely the push to promote energy efficiency - but it fears that the thousands of elderly and vulnerable residents who are unable to switch on their lights for fear of the impending bills may be forgotten.
William Gillis, NEA's Chief Executive, said: "Switching off across the city's offices is obviously a good idea, but many Londoners can't afford to switch on. Their situation is one where paying for the most basic warmth, light and comfort in their homes is a daily struggle."
Green Party Member of the London Assembly Darren Johnson added that while the environmental issues tackled by the Lights Out London campaign were "paramount", the social and health implications of cold damp homes are just as important.
"This campaign must be followed by urgent action to improve the energy efficiency of London's housing, to both slash carbon emissions and eradicate fuel poverty," urged Mr Johnson.