UK Government sets out plans to cut household emissions by a third

The UK Government yesterday laid out its plans to cut household emissions by 29% by 2020 via a green loan scheme aimed at boosting the take up of energy efficiency measures.

The Warm Homes, Greener Homes Strategy aims to install loft and cavity wall insulation in every household that it is practical to do so by 2015 and provide loans for more substantial upgrades for up to seven million homes by 2020.

A ‘pay as you save’ (PAYS) scheme, which was first announced late last year, will provide financing for the installation of more expensive measures such as solid wall insulation or renewable microgeneration systems. Loans will be tied to a property, but will be less than the savings on energy bills that they produce.

“The Warm Homes, Greener Homes Strategy will remove the deterrent of upfront costs and reduce the hassle of the move to greener living,” says Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband.

The strategy will bring together energy companies and local authorities to help homeowners and landlords improve the energy performance of their properties.

“We want all local authorities to take the lead on reducing emissions in their area,” says Communities Secretary, John Denham.

The Government’s strategy also includes £2.5 million to set up ‘Green Show Homes’ across the England.

“People will be able to see firsthand what a refurbished green home is like to live in and the new technologies they can use to improve the energy efficiency of their own homes,” says Housing Minister John Healey.

Energy Performance Certificates will also get an overhaul to provide more useful information for householders, including the ability to model an energy efficiency makeover before undertaking any work.

The Government also says it plans to set up a one-stop-shop energy helpline produce advice and information, as well as new standards covering products and workmanship.

In the process, the plans will create up to 65,000 jobs in the green homes and building industries.

Later this month, a second initiative will launch that will fund a group of employers, including Aviva, HSBC and Sainsbury’s, to help their employees insulate their homes.

The ‘Insulate Today’ pilot programme aims to make it cheaper and easier for the participating companies’ 250,000 employees improve the energy performance of their homes.

For further information:
www.decc.gov.uk/
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/saving_energy/hem/hem.aspx

03 March 2010

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