Keighley event to launch new campaign on warm homes

Thursday, 22 June 2023 20:21

Friends of the Earth is holding an event next week at Keighley College to kick off a new campaign aimed at helping reduce the cost of heating homes.

'Keighley & Ilkley for Warm Homes' aims to bring together individuals, groups and communities who are concerned about the impact of soaring bills - and says it will "advocate for affordable energy and demand the right to a warm home".

The campaign is demanding solutions that will bring down what it calls "sky-rocketing" energy bills so that no-one has to spend another winter freezing in a home they can't afford to heat.

 It says average energy bills are projected to remain around double pre-energy crisis levels well into next winter - and that in Keighley, analysis by Friends of the Earth has found that large areas of the town are in ‘energy crisis hotspots’ – neighbourhoods where the energy crisis is most acutely felt because energy use is high and typical household income is below the national average. 

Solutions put forward by FOE include addressing houses that don't keep the heat in and the dependence on gas.

The Keighley & Ilkley for Warm Homes campaign says it wants the rapid roll-out of a council-led street-by-street insulation programme to be the main priority, targeted first at the most in-need households.

Simon Bowens, regional campaigns organiser at Friends of the Earth, said: “It may feel strange to be talking about cold homes in the summer, but we all deserve to live in warm, comfortable homes that don’t cost the Earth. But with energy bills still soaring and living costs such as food and rent spiralling, millions across the country could face another a bleak and miserable winter in a few months’ time.  

 “No one in Keighley or Ilkley should have to go cold just to stay afloat. We recognise that there are so many people locally who want happier, healthier communities. By coming together, we want to build a powerful local partnership that wins the fight for warm homes.  

“We need to fix the roof while the sun is shining by demanding the solutions that are simply common sense. Insulating our heat-leaking homes and investing in cheap, clean renewables can both save households hundreds on their energy bills and lower costs for good. The great thing is that these solutions are also what’s needed to protect our planet and ensure that future generations have a world left to grow up in.” 

Keighley & Ilkley for Warm Homes will be holding a kick-off event in room DN.03 at Keighley College on Monday 26th June at 7pm for anyone who would like to learn more about the partnership and get involved in the campaign.

To find out more you can visit unitedforwarmhomes.uk