Press Release

New energy research shows 'housing is zooming up political agenda'

25 June 2009

The possibility of 70,000 jobs being created by a home insulation programme to cut CO2 emissions shows the need for more energy efficient homes is 'zooming up the political agenda'.

Unite, the largest union in the country, welcomed the independent research released by Friends of the Earth (FoE) today (Thursday, 25 June) which demonstrated these jobs in England and Wales could be created, if local councils slashed climate-changing emissions by insulating homes and businesses and fitting green energy to buildings.

Gail Cartmail, Unite Assistant General Secretary for the Public Sector said: 'The research is very much welcomed by Unite and shows that the impetus for energy efficient homes, businesses and public buildings is zooming up the political agenda.'

'The research is ticking a number of key boxes – concern for the environment; the need for practical action to make homes and other buildings energy efficient; tackling fuel poverty; and the generation of some 70,000 badly needed skilled jobs. A similar scheme in Germany saved 200,000 construction jobs.'

The FoE announcement comes a week after Unite launched its five-point action plan Meeting housing need: Building Britain out of recession to kick-start the social housing building programme for the 4.5million people on waiting lists.

A key Unite demand was for investment in a 'retro-fit' programme for existing homes to improve energy efficiency i.e. the seven million homes that require solid wall insulation that could generate a further 25,000 jobs and greatly contribute to the government's environmental targets.