Link between winter deaths and leaky homes
The North West had the highest mortality rate, with 21.4% more deaths in winter compared with the non-winter period, significantly higher than the England and Wales average of 19.6%.
A study carried out in 2003 showed that ‘excess winter deaths’ varied widely within Europe. Countries accustomed to low winter temperatures, such as those in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, had very low rates of excess winter deaths compared to countries with very mild winter temperatures. Southern European countries such as Portugal and Spain had very high rates of excess winter deaths. England and Wales both have higher than average rates and exhibit high variation in seasonal mortality.
It is thought that people who live in countries with warmer winters tend to take fewer precautions against the cold and are more likely to have highly leaky homes.
Responding to the figures, Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, says:
“The Prime Minister should be in no doubt that these shocking figures are a direct result of how poorly insulated our homes are. If there is any rolling back of energy efficiency schemes such as ECO in the autumn statement, these disgraceful numbers are only going to get worse. How much more obvious could that be?"
Friends of the Earth Fuel Poverty Campaigner Sophie Neuburg adds:
“It’s scandalous that in a country like Britain in 2013, thousands of people die prematurely every winter because they live in housing that leaks heat. And this winter, as bills rise further and the number of homes being insulated falls, more people will perish.
“While the Chancellor dances to the energy firms' tune and skirts around the task of tackling heat-leaking homes, millions of people shiver, with the older and most vulnerable worst affected.
“Making energy efficiency a top Government priority would knock hundreds of pounds off fuel bills, create jobs and save thousands of lives every year.”
Commenting on the statistics of winter deaths in London, London Assembly Green Party member Jenny Jones says:
“It’s a national scandal that 2700 Londoners died from the cold because of some of the worst fuel poverty levels and energy inefficient homes in Europe.
“The Mayor missed a real opportunity to help an additional hundred thousand London households when he failed to meet his own target to tackle energy inefficient homes. He also ignored warnings to put far more resources behind the green deal to maximise its early uptake. This resulted in a massive drop in the number of home insulation assessments, let alone completions.”
