Responding to the report yesterday (20th May) in the Telegraph detailing an NHS funded trial where patients suffering from respiratory diseases exacerbated by cold homes receive free energy efficiency measures such as boilers or insulation; Roger Webb of the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council said,

‘Living in a cold home can significantly increase the likelihood of ill health, including high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, influenza, asthma and other respiratory diseases as well as hypothermia. One of the key reasons is that people simply can’t afford to make the necessary improvements needed to keep their homes warm.

Supporting people to install appropriate measures that will not only enhance their living conditions, making their homes warmer but will also have a significant effect on improving their health.

Further secondary benefits include reducing the costs to the NHS on repeatedly treating individuals and reducing carbon emissions through the installation more energy efficient products ’