Warm Homes, Greener Homes
The Government's strategy for Household Energy Management
Warm Homes, Greener Homes: The Government's strategy for Household Energy Management
The Government has published its Household Energy Management Strategy Warm Homes, Greener Homes, setting out its plans for meeting its target for a reduction of 29% in carbon emissions from the household sector. The strategy responds to the consultation conducted on Heat and Energy Saving last year. The vision includes:
• the intention is for every home where it is practical to have loft and cavity wall insulation by 2015;
• every home in Britain to have a smart meter and display to help them better manage their energy use;
• up to 7 million households to have had an eco-upgrade which would include advanced measures such as solid wall insulation or heat pumps alongside smart meters and more basic measures;
• people living in rented accommodation to enjoy higher levels of energy efficiency as landlords – private and social – take action to improve the fabric of properties;
• wider take up of district heating in urban areas, such as in blocks of flats, in new build and social housing, and in commercial and public sector buildings;
• a core of up to 65,000 people employed in the new industry of energy efficiency, and potentially several times more down supply chains. Jobs will include installing and manufacturing energy saving measures or providing home energy advice.
• Legislation to enable pay as you save financing that would provide people with eco-upgrades without upfront costs. The plan is to ensure that people can use a share of the money they save on bills, or the revenue from small scale renewables, to cover the cost of the eco-upgrade. Green Finance itself would come from the private sector, as banks and others provide funding for the eco-upgrade, secured against future savings on bills. The solution to these problems is to allow the cost of the upgrade to be attached to the home, not the homeowner. The government proposes to introduce new legislation to make this possible.
• Support for consumers, including plans for a universal advice service and new standards for installation. This will be supported by providing access to more tailored advice through Home Energy Advice packages which are expected to often be subsidised as part of the new energy company obligation.
• A new certification system that will include standards both for people who provide advice about what measures are suitable for a home and for installers themselves. There will be a new quality assurance mark, new accreditation frameworks for installers and new consumer protection schemes, building on existing schemes where possible.
• Grant funding and development of new national occupational standards, as well as a Skills Strategy for the household energy management sector with the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes.
To read the press release click here.
For more details and to download the Strategy click here.
