Measures to reduce carbon from existing homes proposed

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has finally outlined measures to support the fight against climate change in our homes and living rooms. A report by the communities and local government select committee has highlighed that the average existing home is responsible for nearly twice as much carbon as the average new-build home.

The committee said ministers needed to 'engage fully' with cutting emissions from existing stock if they wanted to meet their target of reducing overall emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

There are currently 25 million homes in the UK, of which two-thirds are expected still to be occupied in 2050. The average older home emits 1.6 tonnes of carbon a year, compared to the average new-build home, which emit only 0.86 tonnes.

Among its recommendations, the committee called for stamp duty rebates for householders who make environmental improvements within a year of moving and for smart meters to be fitted in every home to regulate consumption of electricity.

The committee also said local authorities should try to lower the costs of measures such as cavity wall or loft insulation by offering large-scale, area-based programmes for basic home improvements.

The report coincided with the launch of an initiative by environment Hilary Benn to encourage neighbourhoods to reduce their carbon footprint.

Mr Benn 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 initiative 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 focus will be 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.

The CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) scheme, which came into effect on 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.

Background
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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.