The WWF charity have welcomed Government proposals to help UK households save money on their energy bills. The £1 billion ‘Home Energy Saving Programme’ plans to make homes more energy efficient, as the Government introduce more comprehensive long-term measures to address the failings of our existing housing stock. This is seen as the first step towards helping reduce the carbon footprint of existing homes in the UK.
Sustainable Homes Policy Officer at WWF, Zoe Leader, said –
‘Improving the energy efficiency of our homes has to be a priority for the Government if it is to reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions and address the burning issue of fuel poverty. WWF is encouraged by the Government’s aim to insulate all of Britain’s homes by 2020, but at the same time, Gordon Brown needs to look beyond short term solutions for the housing sector, and put in place a clear long-term strategy for making all homes achieve their energy efficiency potential by the end of the decade. For many UK homes, insulation alone will not be the answer.’
The recent WWF report ‘How Low?’ looked at the methods for transforming the UK’s energy inefficient housing stock through solid wall insulation and zero-carbon technologies. This is achievable through ground source heat pumps and solar water heating. Such technologies can be applied to older buildings and rural households, but Gordon Brown’s latest measures will not address these findings.
The WWF is urging the Government to introduce a range of financial incentives that could include low interest loans and council tax rebates to energy efficient homes. These schemes have already been successfully introduced in parts of Europe, and may motivate more homeowners to improve their carbon footprint.
