Kevin McCloud's call for new legislation to kick start refurbs

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 11:36

In May 2010, the Great British Refurb Campaign, which is fronted by the star of TV series Grand Designs, called for the introduction of new legislation in the Queen’s Speech to kick start the market for home energy efficiency refurbishments.
 
In a letter to the new Secretary of State, Chris Huhne, the GBR’s lead supporter, Kevin McCloud said a nationwide home refurbishment campaign is a vital component in the fight against climate change, and legislation is the way forward to ensure the Government’s manifesto pledges on reducing emissions are translated into real action.
 
The Campaign and its partners – WWF-UK and UK Green Building Council – believe that new legislation is required this parliamentary session to enable an ambitious nationwide home retrofit programme. Both the Conservative and Liberal Democrats election manifestos included pledges to tackle the emissions from the country’s poorly insulated and harder-to-treat properties. The Conservative’s ‘Green Deal’ included proposals to ease the upfront costs of eco-refurbishment through Pay-as-You-Save loans attached to the property. The Liberal Democrats also supported such a scheme that would offer every home up to £10,000 for energy-improvements. However, neither party gave much detail on what else is required to make such a refurbishment programme viable, and by when it should be achieved.
 
Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK said:
“As with so many things, the oft-used expression of the devil being in the detail is accurate here. Both parties had the beginnings of promising home energy policies pre-election and tomorrow is the first chance to try and crystallise those promises into action. We urge the new Government to remain firm on its commitment to reduce emissions in the UK by 40 per cent by 2020. This should be achieved primarily through domestic action, and a key focus should be reducing emissions from our existing housing stock. Chris Huhne has himself acknowledged that a plan is needed for tackling ‘the 99 per cent of existing homes that are still belching out carbon.’ Now it is time to put these words into actions, by including a mandate to improve our homes’ energy efficiency in the legislative timetable.”
 
John Alker, Director of Policy & Communications at the UK Green Building Council said:
"This is a potentially massive opportunity for the construction industry. Legislation bringing forward a so-called 'Pay As You Save' scheme cannot come soon enough. Coupled with the right package of incentives, information and advice for consumers, this could revolutionise our draughty, leaky housing stock - cutting energy bills and creating jobs at the same time."
 

For further information, please contact:
Debbie Chapman, Senior Press Officer, WWF-UK, tel: 01483 412397, 07900 670282, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it