Press release
Green Deal lacks big picture plan to ensure no one lives in a cold home
2 June 2011
Commenting on today's Government announcement of how its Green Deal home insulation plan will work for consumers, Friends of the Earth's Economics Campaigner David Powell said:
"Taking the hassle out of energy efficiency refurbs is crucial - but there's a lot more the Government needs to get right for its Green Deal to really transform the nation's cold homes.
"Its current plan won't do enough for people who can't afford to heat their homes properly or those in hard-to-treat houses - and without legal protection from eviction vulnerable tenants will be reluctant to ask landlords for improvements.
"The Government's Energy Bill must deliver a big-picture plan to ensure that everyone lives in a warm home - and meet our legal commitments to wipe out fuel poverty and fight climate change."
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Friends of the Earth is calling for the new Energy Bill to include a Warm Homes Amendment to make sure the Government produces a strategy to insulate enough UK homes to meet our legal commitments to wipe out fuel poverty and tackle climate change. More than a quarter [27 per cent] of the UK's carbon emissions come from our homes.
- To protect tenants in cold homes, Friends of the Earth - and a coalition including children's and health organisations and businesses - wants the Government to bring forward the minimum energy efficiency standard for cold rented homes to 2016 and raise it over time - and give tenants who ask landlords to improve their homes legal protection from eviction. The green campaigning charity also wants councils to have the power to step in and insulate rented homes if landlords refuse to act - and a bigger tax break to encourage landlords to act early to help households facing fuel poverty next winter.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2011
