A CAMPAIGN which was launched this week is calling for more to be done to reduce winter deaths.
Cold Homes Week aims to raise awareness about fuel poverty and get the support of the county’s politicians to make homes more energy-efficient.
In Somerset, 370 winter deaths over and above the average death rate were recorded in 2012, which, according to campaigners, were mostly due to elderly people dying from being too cold.
The campaign is being organised by the Energy Bill Revolution, an alliance of 170 major charities, businesses and organisations calling for more action to improve energy efficiency in the one in five households currently in fuel poverty – defined as anyone who spends more than 10% of their income on energy to keep warm.
OFTEC, the trade body for the oil-fired heating industry, is supporting Cold Homes Week by urging residents across the county to support the campaign by visiting www.energybillrevolution.org and emailing their MP.
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