GBRC

I have to confess that when the DECC press release popped into my inbox this week – ‘Huhne heralds green homes revolution’ – my first thought was ‘how many times can you re-announce the same policy?!’

Sometimes campaigning gets a bit tedious. You can spend loads of time talking amongst yourselves - like minded greenies going round in virtuous circles agreeing with each other, but not making any real impression on those whose minds you've really got to change.

Well the campaign has kicked off a bit of controversy this week - which makes a refreshing change if you ask me. What's the fuss about? Kevin McCloud's appearance at the Conservative party conference in Manchester, that's what.

Frankly, you can only muster so much interest in something that has not yet happened. NGOs and campaigners like us are forever banging on about the world we want to see in the future. Big promises - carbon cuts, energy bill cuts, job creation - are at the hypothetical stage.

That's why it's so important to see green refurb actually carried out. In reality! To a real house! A real householder! You get the idea. Knauf Insulation have been leading this week's Manchester refurbishment project, which Simon McWhirter blogged about last week.