Fighting climate change in homes and communities: UK Property Shop News

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn says 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."