‘People will go Cold this Winter’: Is it time to start Rationing Energy? October 3, 2022 Nicola Irish News, Politics </p> <h2>Place a Ban on Outdoor Gas Heaters</h2> <p> Amidst calls to place a ban on outdoor gas heaters, is it time for us to start thinking about rationing energy, or would that be a sign of Government overstepping the mark. Ciara Kelly and Shane Coleman debate the issue on Newstalk Breakfast.</p> <p>Environmentalist Duncan Stewart has said the use of ‘shameful’ outdoor heaters should be banned.</p> <p>He was speaking amid calls to conserve energy this winter as the cost of living climbs.</p> <p>However there are no plans from the Government for such a ban.</p> <p>Duncan told Newstalk Breakfast this is the ‘most wasteful way’ of using energy.</p> <p>“They’re radiant heaters…gas, but also electricity – and both are doing massive damage.</p> <p>“I think we need to realise you can’t be more wasteful with energy: this is the most wasteful way of using energy”.</p> <p>He said only ‘the rich’ can afford these heaters.</p> <p>“Probably most of our population now are going to suffer really badly from energy shortages and high prices of energy this winter.</p> <p>“To have a situation where people can go and sit outdoor, and squander energy – where cafés and pubs use this as an attraction to bring customers to their particular pubs.</p> <p>“It’s the rich, basically, that can do this”.</p> <p>Put to him that any COVID surge would move people outdoors, he said they should be prepared for it.</p> <p>“If I want to sit outdoors that’s fine, I should be dressed for the occasion.</p> <p>“But if I do go, and if I find one of these, I immediately leave.”</p> <p>Asked if this is a move toward heat-shaming, he said: “We have to live our lives within a level of where we’re being responsible.</p> <p>“Trying to justify this is not the way to do it: this is shameful.”</p> <p>He added: “The other side, in my view, is not a very responsible side when we have such issues with greenhouse gas emissions.</p> <p>“And this is such a visual way of showing waste – we have so many people poor now that will have problems trying to heat their homes and with shortages”.</p> <p>Also speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said no such ban is planned.</p> <p>“The approach we’re making won’t be to ban or indeed even to put the guilt finger at any one person or any one activity.</p> <p>“But it absolutely makes sense for us to reduce our energy now.</p> <p>“Firstly for climate reasons, but secondly that high price of gas is going to make those incredibly expensive.</p> <p>“I think every business is going to have to decide, and every household, without anyone putting a shame or guilt on them – how can we reduce our energy to save us money, to be part of what’s going to have to be a collective effort through a very difficult wartime period.</p> <p>“I would very much agree with Duncan on the sense of stopping that use, but I don’t think the way to go is in a banning, shaming”, he added.</p> <p> <br /> Credit to : Newstalk</p> <p> Please support our Sponsors here :
