ELDERLY residents will not catch a cold from an energy efficiency campaign, Burnley councillors have been assured.

The Council's energy efficiency campaign is being extended to include more public buildings and some old folks' sheltered housing accommodation.

That led to concerns being expressed about its effects on the elderly. Coun Marion Smith told members of the Housing Committee: "We must take the cold weather into account. Old people need the extra heat anyway.''

Building Services officer, Tony Sagar, stressed that it was not a "switch off'' campaign.

The aim of the action plan was to target energy waste, to maintain or improve existing comfort levels whilst reducing energy consumption and harmful carbon emissions. Energy efficiency could cut energy bills by ten per cent without reducing comfort or safety conditions, he said.

Coun Marcus Johnstone said the campaign was started at the Town Hall and lessons had been learned.

He said: "Here we are talking about people who are potentially vulnerable. It is possible to be too zealous in turning off too many lights and it is important to stress to the tenants that this is not a switch off campaign."

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