NEWS RELEASE
Date: 2 April 2008
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Benn takes the fight against climate change Into homes and communities
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will today say that we need to take the fight against climate change into our homes and living rooms as he sets out a range of initiatives to enable people to make their homes greener.
In a speech today he will say: "It is because none of us will be immune to dangerous climate change, that we all need to take steps to prevent it happening. These initiatives will give people the support to do this in their everyday lives.
"This is essential because if we are to stop climate change's worst consequences, changes need to be made in people's kitchens, living rooms and communities, as much as in industry boardrooms, parliamentary debating chambers or around the international negotiating table."
Details of the package are:
1. To make it as easy as possible for people to make their homes greener Mr Benn today launched the Act on CO2 Advice Line, so that anyone, from anywhere in England can call 0800 512 012 to access a one stop shop for free, tailored, impartial advice from the Energy Saving Trust on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
On top of the advice on how to use less energy in their home, callers can now get advice on how to save water, reduce waste, green their travel, and connect to grants and offers from energy companies.
The Government is providing the Energy Saving Trust with more than £100 million over the next three years to deliver a broader programme for green homes. It will be rolled out so that in 12 months there will be a network of one stop advice centres around the country.
2. To demonstrate how communities can live a low carbon lifestyle the Green Neighbourhoods initiative will give a green makeover to up to 100 neighbourhoods in England with an aim to reduce their carbon footprints by more than 60 per cent.
Delivered by the Energy Saving Trust and backed by potentially more than £10 million over the next three years from the Government’s domestic Environmental Transformation Fund, this will call for local alliances between householders, community groups, local authorities, energy suppliers, private companies, and banks to bid for funding. To receive funding, bidders will need to join together and commit substantial levels of funding from their own resources to help transform the environmental performance of a street or local area. This will demonstrate to others what can be achieved and how much money householders can save in the longer term by working together and taking a holistic approach to energy saving.
The initiative will include a focus on hard to treat homes such as Victorian terraces and poorly insulated tower blocks which often have solid walls or no loft space, in addition to properties that use oil or coal for heating as they have no connection to the mains gas network. Other actions inside and outside the home will be encouraged too, including efficient street lighting and community energy projects, as well as better water efficiency and more recycling.
The Energy Saving Trust aims to launch a competition for funding proposals by the end of the year, with the first successful projects being funded from April 2009.
3. The CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) scheme, which came into effect yesterday (1 April), doubles previous obligations on energy companies to help people make their homes more energy efficient and reduce household emissions. The total investment is estimated at around £1 billion a year for three years. Forty per cent of the work to reduce emissions will be targeted at the over 70s and people on low incomes.
It is estimated that over the next three years it will fund:
- The distribution of around 100 million free or subsidised energy efficient light bulbs;
- Improved insulation for five million households;
- Two to three million households helped with important measures to save energy, such as energy efficient appliances.
It is estimated that once all the measures are installed under the scheme – which is being highlighted in adverts in national papers today – it will save 4.2MtCO2/year – the equivalent of removing 1.45 million cars from the road.
People can access information about the offers available to them by calling the Act On CO2 advice line or by contacting energy suppliers directly.
Mr Benn added:
“Individuals are responsible for almost half of emissions, so people have to start taking action in their own lives if we are to meet the challenge of climate change.
“But there is a lot of information out there and the Government recognises that it can be hard to know where to start. These initiatives will help address that.”
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said:
“With a network of advice centres across the UK, we will be able to offer millions of people free and impartial advice on environmental matters such as energy efficiency, renewable technologies and greener transport. Our research shows people want comprehensive advice on all the different ways they can green their homes. That’s why we’ll be starting to also give advice on other environmental issues like recycling and water conservation.”
Notes to editors
1. People can call the Act On CO2 Advice line on 0800 512 012, or visit the Energy Saving Trust website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
2. In addition to energy saving measures by 2011, CERT could deliver up to an additional 87,000 microgeneration installations, meaning more homes could be generating their own renewable energy. This will work to provide incentives and remove planning barriers for microgeneration, as well as making sure energy generating households are rewarded for electricity they sell back to the grid.
3. Energy Performance Certificates give energy ratings on homes for the first time, helping homeowners to save hundreds of pounds on their fuel bill and are projected to save nearly a million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020. Buyers whose homes score poor energy ratings of F or G (currently around one-fifth of all homes) will receive an offer of a discount or free help with energy efficiency measures from the Act On CO2 advice line from November, helping to save hundreds of pounds off fuel bills.
4. The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) is the Government’s £86m grant programme for microgeneration technologies, offering capital grants over three years to successful applicants. The programme aims to demonstrate the potential for encouraging both energy-efficiency and microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings, driving down costs in the process, and making the microgeneration market more sustainable. The programme has been extended to June 2010 for new applications or as long as funds are available, whichever is sooner.
5. The domestic Environmental Transformation Fund is a new joint Defra/BERR low carbon technology fund worth £400m over three years. Further details can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/energy/fund/index.htm
6. Under the CERT scheme, obligated* energy companies are responsible for their own offers. For details of the latest available offers, including full details of eligibility (which can depend on your location and circumstances), visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/gid, or contact the Act On CO2 advice line on 0800 512 012, or contact the energy companies directly. Some examples include:
- EDF Energy is offering free loft and cavity wall insulation for those aged over 70 or in receipt of an income or disability related benefit. For those unable to qualify for free insulation, EDF Energy offers substantial grants towards the cost of both loft and cavity wall insulation.
- npower is offering free cavity wall and loft insulation to people on benefits, or aged 70 or over who live in their own home (or privately rented). In addition, on completion of the insulation work npower will provide four energy efficient light bulbs for free.
- E.ON offers a wide range of energy savings measures under CERT, including cavity wall and loft insulation, PowerDown energy saving plugs and low energy lamps. Cavity wall and loft insulation is available free to anyone aged 70 or above, whether they are an E.ON customer or not, and to people in receipt of certain benefits.
- British Gas offers free insulation to its customers who are either over 70 and/or on income related benefits, this offer applies to both loft and cavity wall insulation. British Gas also has over 75 schemes with local authorities where if householders insulate their homes, they can receive up to £125 off their council tax bill. Under CERT, British Gas also offers a Standby Saver - a multi-socket that is plugged into the TV and switches of other appliances, for example DVD players, set-top boxes and hi-fis, when the TV is turned off.
- ScottishPower is offering free cavity wall insulation to those aged 70 or over, or those in receipt of one of the qualifying state benefits. Discounts are also available on loft insulation.
- Scottish & Southern Energy offers free cavity wall insulation and full loft insulation to householders who are at least 70 years old or in receipt of a qualifying benefit. Whilst a householder with a three bed semi detached home installing cavity wall insulation and full loft insulation could benefit from a grant of £475 (inc VAT).
* Companies with more than 50,000 customers.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of offers or companies, both of which can change over time. For a full list of energy companies in the UK, please go to www.ofgem.gov.uk.
7. Hilary Benn has today welcomed B&Q’s offer of loft insulation and installed cavity wall and loft insulation at half price and its commitment to insulation price promotions throughout 2008. B&Q will also shortly be announcing a special offer for the over 70s and those families on low incomes. These offers are being delivered in partnership with British Gas.
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Page last modified: 2 April 2008
Page published: 2 April 2008