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.
As the Guardian reported last week, the energy regulator’s chief executive has warned that “all of us should be thinking about how to reduce our energy use where possible” to reduce the likelihood of power cuts this winter (Ofgem calls on consumers to cut gas and electricity use, 13 October).
Peter Gilbert
Philosophy graduate and Green party council election candidate, Sheffield
• Julian Baggini’s article about performative thriftiness by the upper and middle classes has some elements that might stand up to scrutiny. Even in my deprived corner of England, the north-east, there is plenty of evidence of money: concert halls, theatres, football grounds and restaurants all full to capacity.
So maybe the lifestyle is being subsidised by leaving the heating off. It would be interesting to know if the food banks are being used by some to shore up the payments on a massive mortgage or to stop the BMW being repossessed. It’s called “keeping up appearances”.
Anne Neale
Cullercoats, Tyne and Wear
• Julian Baggini’s column felt very unkind to your older readers. As children in the 1940s and 1950s we knew all lights had to be turned off in unoccupied rooms, baths were strictly limited and rare, while, with rationing, food was very frugal (powdered eggs or snoek, anyone?).
Bringing up our families in the 1970s, we stocked up on candles, used as little power as possible and ate sensibly, with batch cooking and cheap cuts such as lamb’s tongue and ox liver.
Now, with new threats to power and water, we are not being performatively thrifty; if we use less water and power, there’s more for everyone else. This has been the natural response by my family, and we do it without self‑consciousness, or even telling anyone.
Antonia Till
London
• Thank you, Julian Baggini, for explaining the true motive behind our turning down our central heating. Andrew and I thought that, by upgrading our radiator valves and only heating a few rooms as necessary, we were doing our bit towards reducing the speed of global warming, and saving energy for those who need it more.
When our first winter fuel payment arrived this week, we thought we could share it among our children, who really will be hit by rising prices. But I suppose we’re only assuaging feelings of guilt.
Susan Saunders
Teddington, London
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