News

UK-GBC event at the Building Centre

Green Budget must start at home.

The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne MP and the Shadow Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Greg Clark MP, announced their green budget plans at a UK Green Building Council event this morning.

The UK-GBC welcomed the Conservative's “Shadow Green Budget” but warned even more will need to be done if the UK is to meet its climate change goals.

John Alker, Head of Advocacy at the UK Green Building Council said:

“With 27 percent of UK emissions coming from our housing stock, the Tories have recognised that tackling climate change starts at home. The plan to ‘entitle’ householders to a package of energy efficiency measures is a progressive and far-sighted policy. This scheme eliminates the upfront cost of energy efficiency and ensures householders save money on their bills from day one. 

“Aiming to refurbish 10 million homes over 10 years is hugely ambitious, and that should be applauded. But the key to that is effective delivery. To get sufficient uptake in the first few years it might well require an additional upfront fiscal incentive, such as a tax rebate, to sweeten the offer to householders. We would encourage the Conservatives to explore this as soon as possible.”

Under the Conservative plans:

• Everyone would be able to upgrade their home energy efficiency with no upfront costs and immediate savings on their bill.

• The cost of the measures would be recovered through the property’s energy bills over the period of 25 years. 

• Even accounting for the recovery of those costs, the householder’s monthly bills are lower than they were before.

RELATED LINKS

To view highlights of the event click here.

For further information on the UK-GBC's work on existing homes, click here
To download the Conservative policy paper 'A Green Technology Revolution'
To read George Osborne's speech click here

To view the coverage in the Guardian click here.

CONTACT 

John Alker, UK-GBC

0777 222 8737