Government unveils green homes package

Firms providing green technologies and services for consumers will be hoping for a boost in the coming months after the government today unveiled a raft of initiatives designed to help individuals reduce the environmental impact of their homes and communities.

In a speech today environment secretary Hilary Benn is to unveil a package of measures designed to curb domestic carbon emissions, including a new free advice line providing people with guidance on how to reduce their carbon footprint, plans for a £100m green homes programme, which will see the Energy Savings Trust launch a series of one-stop-shop advice centres and a £10m Green Neighbourhoods project to cut emissions from 100 communities around the country.

Benn is expected to say that the new services are "essential" to the fight against climate change, "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".

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said that the new Act on CO2 advice line and network of advice centres would see the group extend its remit to cover other environmental issues besides energy efficiency.

"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," he said. "Our research shows people want comprehensive advice on all the different ways they can green their homes. That is why we will be starting to also give advice on other environmental issues like recycling and water conservation."

Benn's speech comes a day after the governments Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) legislation came into effect, doubling previous obligations on energy firms to help people make their homes more energy efficient. The government expects that the new targets will result in around £1bn a year being invested by the energy giants in efficiency improvements for their customers over the next three years with 40 per cent of the work targeted at the over 70s and people on low incomes.

In particular, it is expected to result in the distribution of around 100 million free or subsidised energy efficient light bulbs, improved insulation for five million households, and the financial support to help up to three million households deploy energy efficient appliances. The government said that the CERT legislation could also help deliver up to 87,000 installations of microgeneration technologies such as combined heat and power units and solar panels.

Firms providing microgeneration or energy efficient technologies are likely to welcome the new initiatives, which it is hoped will lead to significantly increased demand for green goods and services.

B&Q and British Gas, for example, are today expected to win plaudits from Benn for their combined offer of half price loft insulation and installed cavity wall and loft insulation and its commitment insulation price promotions throughout the rest of the year.