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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Letters

Why do we keep the central heating off? It isn’t a thriftifarian pose

Family in warm socks sitting on a comfortable white rug indoors
‘Julian Baggini fails to mention those who are cutting energy use in solidarity with Ukraine, or people in this country, as recommended by Ofgem.’ Photograph: pikselstock/Alamy

Julian Baggini is absolutely right: my wife and I could afford to turn our central heating on. But the reason we have not yet done so has nothing to do with the vacuous posturing that he thinks he has detected and named (As prices rise, the cost of living crisis has reawakened the ‘thriftifarians’, 17 October). It is simply the fact that we feel morally compelled to make our contribution, tiny as it is, to the fight against the climate crisis. I suppose it is also important that we come out and say so.
Dr James Willis
Alton, Hampshire

• As a philosopher commenting on how the world thinks, Julian Baggini fails to mention those who are cutting energy use in solidarity with Ukraine, or those who are doing so for the good of the country, as recommended by Ofgem, while our incompetent government blocks plans for a public information campaign to encourage people to reduce their energy use.

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