Press release

Energy Bill: Green Deal will leave millions out in the cold

10 May 2011

MPs must strengthen the Energy Bill - which will be debated in Parliament today (Tuesday 10 May) - to enable households to slash fuel bills, save energy and tackle climate change, says Friends of the Earth.

The Energy Bill aims to provide for a step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures. At the heart of the proposed new legislation is the Green Deal, which will enable householders and businesses to take out loans to improve their property's energy efficiency - with repayments made from the money they save on energy bills.

But Friends of the Earth says the proposals are too weak and will do little to help the millions of people living in fuel poverty - especially those living in rented accommodation. It says the Government also lacks any overall strategy on home energy efficiency.

Friends of the Earth is calling for the Energy Bill to be improved by including:

• A Warm Homes Amendment to ensure the Government produces a strategy to insulate enough homes to meet legal targets for tackling climate change and fuel poverty.
• A legal minimum standard of energy efficiency for properties rented from a landlord or letting agency from 2016, making it an offence for a landlord to re-let a property with an energy rating so poor it is a health hazard.

Pressure for a significant improvement to the Energy Bill is gathering force. Over 50 organisations - including businesses such as B&Q and M&S, alongside the National Children's Bureau and others - have signed a joint statement supporting the Warm Homes Amendment.

Almost 40 organisations are calling for the Energy Bill to establish a minimum legal level of energy efficiency for homes rented from a landlord or lettings agency. These include Citizens Advice, Crisis and Consumer Focus. The demand is supported by 175 MPS (including 34 Lib Dem MPs) who have signed a Parliamentary petition (Early Day Motion number 653).

Friends of the Earth's Director of Policy and Campaigns Craig Bennett said:

"Chris Huhne promised the Green Deal would be the most ambitious energy saving plan ever, yet it will leave millions of poorer families out in the cold.

"We need a comprehensive strategy for a nationwide refit of the UK's cold and draughty homes to tackle climate change and end fuel poverty - starting by ensuring that rented homes meet a basic standard of heating and insulation.

"Ministers must give households, landlords and businesses the confidence and incentives to invest in energy efficiency."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.    See Friends of the Earth briefing on minimum energy efficiency standard for rented homes.

2.    See Friends of the Earth briefing on the need for a Government energy efficiency strategy.

3.    Friends of the Earth is also calling tor the Energy Bill to:

• Ensure every council does its bit to cut emissions in their local community to help meet UK Climate Change Act targets;
• Provide Emissions Performance Standards for coal and gas power stations, limiting their polluting emissions to ensure Britain's electricity system can be largely decarbonised by 2030;
• End the priority of oil over offshore renewable energy - removing the outdated bias allowing oil and gas companies to have priority access to the sea bed over offshore renewable energy projects through Crown Estate leases.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust