Member News
By Nathan Draper - 2nd July 2009
Homeownners will have to change their lifestyles as part of Britain's efforts to tackle climate change, experts have said.
James Higgins, energy policy consultant for JDS Associates, told a meeting of the intelligent energy all-party parliamentary group on Wednesday that "in order to decarbonise British homes, lifestyle changes are key".
"Summer 2009 could be the year that Britain gets its act together," he said.
Industry experts have stressed that decarbonising existing homes must fit around homeowners.
Measures to improve energy efficiency in the domestic sector include ensuring houses are well insulated, making sure electrical appliances are more efficient and using low-carbon heating systems.
Lifestyle changes such as washing at low temperatures and turning down thermostats are also seen as part of the package of measures needed to reduce CO2 emissions.
Housing and energy representatives at the meeting suggested that incentives might be necessary to encourage homeowners to invest in more energy-friendly buildings.
Jose Davila, head of strategy at British Gas New Energy, stressed that it is important that the government focuses on decarbonising existing homes.
But he noted that such a programme has to be consumer-friendly. "We have to fit the programme to the people," he said.
And Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF, told the group that the de-carbonisation of homes would be the first time that climate change will "directly affect people in the UK".
Responding for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, John Russell, head of energy saving finance, agreed that consumer needs are important. "We are very responsive to the needs of consumers," he stated.
Efforts to decarbonise UK homes could boost employment, he added, with hundreds of thousands of jobs in Germany created through similar schemes.
The chairman of the APPG, Labour MP Colin Challen, also welcomed the decarbonisation citing benefits beyond that on climate change.
"Firstly it will save money and secondly it will increase demand, therefore securing supply," he noted.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
Mike Waite
2nd Jul 2009 at 2:25 pm