Here's my analysis of what the three main political parties proposed to make it easier, more affordable and attractive for you to refurbish your home with energy efficient measures.
This multi-manifesto analysis explicitly does not recommend or endorse any one political housing policy over another. All the Great British Refurb campaign partners are politically neutral.
Home retrofit finance for homeowners of £10,000
Obligation on energy companies to subsidise costs
Finance up to £6,500 per home, with a higher limit for homes that are trickier to fix
Obligation on energy companies to subsidise costs
Finance for £10K home energy improvements.
One year only eco-cash incentive offer for some improvements
Proposed regulation to set new energy efficiency standard in the private rented sector from 2015
All social housing to reach higher energy standard by 2020
None
None but homes will require an assessment to access finance
All homes will have basic loft and cavity wall insulation by 2015 and by 2020 7 million homes will have more substantial 'eco-upgrades'
No specific targets
No specific targets
400,000 new green jobs to be created by 2015, with 65,000 new jobs in the insulation and renewable energy sectors
70,000 skilled jobs but no timeline
Green Stimulus plan will create 65,000 green jobs in the home refurbishment sector
Green show homes, grant funding and a Skills Strategy to spread new skills across the supply chain
Kite-mark scheme for installers
Approved accreditation scheme for low energy refurbishment providers.
Work placement scheme
Accredited free advice service for homeowners and tailored advice from Home Energy Advisers who visit properties
None
Accreditation scheme for assessors and advisors to support consumer confidence
Feed-in-tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive for homeowners to claim cash for electricity and heat generated
Will review effectiveness of FiT/RHI in 2013 and consider how decentralised energy will play a role
Continued support FiTs and RHI
Approved accreditation scheme for low energy refurbishment providers.
Work placement schemeOur charitable campaign partners were bound to remain politically neutral in the run-up to the election but I hope my analysis about what the politicians were offering eco-conscious homeowners was helpful. Your thoughts and votes on their policies is below...
