A new system to help homebuyers get green grants worth hundreds of pounds (about $2 x pounds for USD) to lower their fuel bills and make their homes greener is linked to the introduction of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said, “It can be a real hassle getting the work done. Most people don’t know these grants are available or don’t know how to apply for them. This means it should be much easier for homebuyers to get help to cut their fuel bills and carbon emissions too.”

Most people are unaware that there are typical grants from £100 to £300 (about $203. to $609. USD) for loft and cavity wall insulation. The program is expanding next year so even more homebuyers will be able to benefit from the program.

Measures recommended in the Energy Performance Certificates ( EPC) could save the average consumer an additional £300 ($609. USD) a year off of their fuel bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Sam Laidlaw, Chief Executive of Centrica plc, which owns British Gas, said, “UK homes account for more than a quarter of all carbon emissions generated in this country so ensuring they are energy efficient will play a vital role in helping the UK achieve its CO2 emission reduction targets. We fully endorse the introduction of EPCs as a means of facilitating this.  We are committed to a program of training fully accredited domestic energy assessors to assist delivery of the initial phase of EPC implementation and will work with customers that wish to act on their EPC with targeted energy efficiency improvements.  These improvements will be particularly helpful to first-time buyers and those moving into homes with poor energy efficiency ratings.”

With EPCs – giving homebuyers a home energy rating, the system will make it easier for consumers to get grants for the improvements recommended in the certificates.

For the first time, the six major energy companies have agreed that when buyers move into their home and sign up to an energy contract they will get immediate access and information about ‘green’ grants or offers to consumers. This follows talks with the Government and will help them make their home more environmentally friendly and cut fuel bills.

In addition, the program will include a new portal on the Energy Saving Trust’s website where consumers only need to enter their postcode to find details of the offers available. Once fully rolled out, it is estimated that the energy certificates would save nearly a million metric tons of carbon per year by 2020.

Consumers who choose to give details from their EPC to suppliers will also receive targeted offers for recommendations in their certificate. This information will not be used for any other purpose and cannot be given to anyone else by the supplier.

The offers are funded by energy suppliers and other partners, with their investment in ‘green grants’ increasing to £2.5 billion (about $5.08 billlion USD) over the next three years from April 2008, compared to £1 billion (about $2.03. billlion USD) over the last three years.

EPCs were introduced as part of Home Information Packs (HIP), starting with four bedroom homes and above. The certificates will give consumers energy ratings for homes of A-G, similar to consumer friendly fridge ratings.

A snapshot of leading estate agents shows that most will offer a HIP for around £300 to £350 (about $609. to $711. USD) plus VAT – £200 to £250 (about $406. to $507. USD) of which is already paid for in the current system.

Some estate agents will be offering them for free or as part of their ordinary fees.

The introduction of HIPs is already leading to search prices coming down for consumers, with nearly fifty local authorities having already reduced their charges for consumers searches, in some cases by more than £100 (about $203. USD).

Increased competition and transparency as result of HIPs is expected to reduce costs further.

The Government will monitor HIPs closely to ensure that  the benefits are being passed to the consumer, with a new consumer panel being set up as part of a wider program of action to make the home buying and selling process work in the interests of consumers.

The introduction of HIPs in August when the market is normally quieter, with fewer homes for sale, will help to support the smooth transition.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said, “Our Green Barometer shows that more than half of people want tailored advice on energy saving.  Energy Performance Certificates will make it easier for people to identify the simple things they can do in their home to reduce their energy consumption.  More people will be reached now that energy companies are being proactive in providing information to householders on grants available to them.”

Gas and electricity companies are already required by government, phase one of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), to help people reduce their consumption of energy in the home.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Dave Timms said, “We’re delighted that Energy Performance Certificates are finally up and running. EPCs will give homeowners information which, if they act on it, will help them tackle climate change and save money on home energy bills.”

Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK-BC (Green Building Council), has said, “It’s really very simple. We will fail to prevent the worst effects of climate change unless we make huge improvements to the energy efficiency of our existing homes. The new Energy Performance Certificates provide an essential tool for doing this. By showing people, for the first time, how their homes rate in terms of energy consumption, and giving them user-friendly advice about the most cost-effective ways of improving their performance,
we can all be equipped to do something meaningful to tackle climate change.”

At least 10 million households received energy efficiency measures under the first phase of the EEC (2002-05), which increased the number of people installing loft and cavity wall insulation, low energy light bulbs, and energy efficient products. The first phase of the program stimulated £600 million (about $1218.6 million USD) of investment in energy efficiency and delivered net benefits to householders in excess of £3 billion (about $6.09 billion USD).

Under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, which is EEC phase two and the current phase (2005-08 ), of the plan, 800,000 households have already received cavity wall insulation and is expected to deliver 0.5 MtC annually in 2010. The next phase, that will run from 2008 – 2011, is expected to cut carbon emissions by 1.1 million metric tons and will save consumers £10 billion (about $20.3 billion USD).

(Ed.: It is fascinating and encouraging to see how the UK government, industry, and people have accepted the challenge of combating Global Warming/Climate Change and work together so effectively to make their commitment a success. If the U.S. does nothing more than the UK, it would actively join the world community in the race to save our planet. Pip Pip and Cheerio!)

Source for this post: Communities and Local Government

Related posts:

1. Homeowners Benefit from Energy-Saving Renovations (U.S.A.) Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, the local affiliate of the nation’s largest...
2. Green Building Alliance Announces Grants Totaling $240,000 for Product Innovation to Five Recipients (U.S.A.) Logo courtesy of Diamond website. Third round brings total...
3. New Year’s Resolutions Requested to be ‘Green’ (UK) Emblem courtesy of Pattison Sign Group website It was...
4. Health Product Firm to Support Environmental Initiatives A very earth-conscious firm that supplies herbal remedy solutions and...
5. Consultant Firm to Support U.S.A. EPA Climate Change Division Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE:SAI) announced today that it...