“The detrimental impact of cold homes doesn’t just affect pensioners, with those suffering disabilities or on a low income also at risk. Around 2.3 million UK households can’t afford to heat their home adequately, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc). Householders considered to be fuel poor are those with a combination of income below the poverty line, and a property with higher than typical energy costs. ‘Just under half of fuel poor households are in work, and 45% are families or lone parents,’ says Richard Howard, head of environment and energy at thinktank Policy Exchange. ‘Fuel poverty has been made worse by rising energy prices, but also reflects the inefficiency of the nation’s housing stock, which is among the least energy efficient in Europe.'”