Philippa Ward
Two recent reports on energy have brought home how tough the future will be.
Time to act
First, the most recent figures on fuel poverty show that the sharp climb in the number of households that spend more than 10 per cent of their income on energy. The figure has gone up by about half a million households each year from 2004 to 2007 and is expected to hit 5.5 million next year.
The second cause for gloom is a recent report by Ofgem on the future of energy prices. Even the most optimistic scenario sees prices go up by 14 per cent in the next decade - the worst case sees them soar by 60 per cent. Unless we move from talk to action on retrofitting energy efficiency measures, we are looking at a catastrophic situation where families will have to choose between heating and eating.
The sector has to fight the problem on two fronts: by getting tenants engaged with the ways that green living can help them and save money, as well as the planet; and by leading the way in sustainability themselves.
The winners of the Sustainable Housing Awards are doing just that. The problem now is to help everyone else do the same. But if some well directed cash isn’t spent now, we will see the consequences over the next decade as energy prices and temperatures rise.
Philippa Ward, editor, Footprint
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