Mayor announces new low-carbon zones for London

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has expanded the city’s Low Carbon Zone scheme, launched by his predecessor Ken Livingston.

Six new zones will join the four existing projects in Barking, Wembley, Elephant and Castle and Mitcham. Work on the new zones is expected to start early next year.

“Soaring oil prices have proved that the case for energy efficiency is a no-brainer, making sense both financially and in terms of protecting our quality of life in the future,” said Johnson. “Ten flagship green energy zones across London will provide locally produced, less-polluting and less-wasteful energy to fuel households and businesses in these areas.”

Details of how the locations of the new zones are to be decided are due in September.

People in London, as well as schools, developers, universities and hospitals are being invited to submit location ideas.

More than three quarters of London’s carbon emissions are produced by homes, public and commercial buildings. The zones will help local communities and buildings to become energy efficient by cutting energy use.

The work will involve a range of services and technologies including home insulation, adding energy-efficient devices to buildings, locally generated renewable energy schemes, plus energy and carbon assessments to work out existing carbon footprints and how best to reduce them.

The Mayor is working with the Energy Saving Trust, EDF Energy, British Gas and other energy suppliers, and the London Energy Partnership to deliver the zones.

“The challenge with climate change is that it can feel too far removed from the reality of our daily lives. Engaging communities by showing what can be done where they live is key to encouraging collective action,” said Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust.