WWF UK has welcomed the Governments latest consultation on heat and energy, which could lead to many homes reducing their CO2 emissions. These steps to tackle the energy efficiency of our homes is great news, as the UK’s existing housing stock is responsible for 27% of the country’s total CO2 emissions.
These include plans to give one quarter of all homes a full energy makeover by 2020, and the extension of home energy audits to all homes. The Heat and Energy Saving Consultation outlines a number of measures which would help more homeowners in the UK insulate their homes and save money on their heating bills. These measures would cost extra Government funding, though there seems to be no indication of any extra cash to finance these plans.
Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK said –
‘The WWF urges the Government to provide a clear steer on the delivery and financial mechanisms for achieving these targets. We urgently need to see some substance behind the headlines to put us on track to meeting our climate change targets. Tackling the energy efficiency of our homes is the most cost-effective way to tackle climate change and the payback for homeowners and the environment in the long term will make it more than worthwhile. The Government has announced that it will cut existing housing emissions by a third by 2020 which is a laudable target. Now we need to see funding for this strategy as a matter of urgency.’
