64% of houses in Richmond upon Thames are poorly insulated which is an issue for both those struggling with fuel bills and for tackling climate chaos because of carbon used in the energy wasted.

On 27th March, Richmond and Kingston Greenpeace and Richmond & Twickenham Friends of the Earth, two local environmental groups, joined forces to speak to Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney and Twickenham MP Munira Wilson about the Warm Homes Campaign. Both MPs pledged support.

The campaign calls for

·        Urgent support for people dealing with sky-high energy bills.

·        A new emergency programme to insulate our heat-leaking homes.

·        An energy system powered by cheap, green renewables.

Sarah Olney also affirmed that it tied in closely with her private member's bill "Minimum Energy Performance of Buildings Bill" which seeks to bring all housing stock up to at least EPC rating of C by 2033 where practical, cost-effective, and affordable; and for new homes built from 1 January 2025 to be zero carbon ready as defined by a new Future Homes Standard.

The warm homes campaign brings together several aspects relating to how homes are heated. It asks for a joined-up set of policies that generate the cheapest form of electricity, which is renewable energy, together with a wide scale programme of insulating homes, and provide support for those who cannot afford the current high cost of energy.

Nationally, the campaign has brought together a variety of organisations that work on local issues including housing, poverty alleviation and environmental protection. They hope that by working together towards a common goal, they can win the fight for warm homes that do not cost the Earth. 

Simon Tompsett of Richmond and Twickenham Friends of the Earth, said:

"No one in Richmond upon Thames should be pushed into extreme fuel poverty or have to see their community choose between heating and eating. The sheer scale of households struggling to pay bills, forced to go without or being pushed into debt shows that urgent action is needed.

"The government must address one of the key drivers behind our hyper-inflated bills – the UK's poorly insulated housing stock. 

"With so few homes properly insulated in the neighbourhoods that are struggling most, the government must roll out a rapid, street-by-street programme of insulation targeting these areas first. This will save people hundreds of pounds each year on their energy bills and reduce the harmful emissions that cause climate change."

Camilla Reeve of Richmond and Kingston Greenpeace, said

"Our local residents, like people right across the UK, are deeply worried about rising energy prices and the climate crisis.

We need the government to start moving our economy strongly in a green direction and to show they really care about those already suffering fuel poverty."

Munira Wilson said: "I'm delighted to support the Warm Homes Campaign, which would have a triple whammy of benefits for the environment, for the economy and for ending fuel poverty in the UK.

"With families across the country struggling with sky-high energy prices, finding ways to cut energy costs has never been more urgent. The Liberal Democrats have long led the way on environmental and energy targets. We're calling for an ambitious plan to insulate every home in Britain over the next ten years, starting with those in fuel poverty, alongside improving schemes like the Warm Home Discount, and ensuring Britain gets 80% of its electricity from green energy by 2030."

Sarah Olney said: "Insulation should be a major priority for this government and yet, last week, they blocked my efforts to bring energy bills down for millions of people.

"No one should have to come back to a freezing home or debilitating energy bill. The Government needs to stop giving warm homes the cold shoulder and start tackling this crisis now."