House-to-house visits and... free EPCs?
According to TimesOnline, Gordon Brown has, today, announced plans to introduce a new helpline called the 'Green Homes Service" for householders wishing to find out how to reduce their C02 emissions.
A helpline - sigh - great!
Well, that's what the Times says anyway (Read the article); Guardian Politics interpret it slightly differently:
By 2016 Brown also promised that all new houses would be zero carbon and vowed to help one in three existing households to cut their carbon footprints through a one-stop green homes service...
[Added: The DEFRA site has more info on the Green Homes Scheme]
House-to-house visits
It also adds that households in poorer areas can expect, 'house-to-house visits [...] which could save householders more than £100 a year in energy bills.'
The devil, and finer detail apply here - How does the mere unsolicited knock on the door save householders more than £100 a year?
Unless, it is tied into his next declaration:
He also promised free insulation for 5m homes over the next three years, and low-energy light bulbs and appliances to a further 3m homes.
At last!
Now we're talking - Real action. Most welcome.
Free Energy Performance Certificates for all?
A curious paragraph in The Guardian's write-up also says:
...that each home will be issued with energy performance certificates providing householders with energy ratings.
[Emphasis mine]
Does this signal a shift in policy? Free EPCs all-round, anybody?
Source: Brown ready to make deeper emissions cuts - Guardian Politics.
Tags: government, green-homes-service
