Energy efficiency in the UK is set to receive a boost after the government revealed £35 million is on standby for homes and businesses.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) made the announcement and said they’ll help homes reduce energy bills and keep them down.
Chris Huhne also mentioned that there were plans to help the green energy suppliers as they try to compete with the ‘big six’.
While the DECC have said it’s too early to reveal any details about the £35 million fund, they did say it’s part of the government’s £200 million Spending Review.
This war chest was announced in November 2010 as a way to help homes and businesses improve their energy efficiency. This could be through measures such as double glazing, loft lagging or wall cavity insulation.
Both commercial and domestic buildings account for a large proportion of carbon emissions. Commercial buildings in the UK emit 18% of the country’s carbon, while homes are responsible for 24%.
The government has clearly made home insulation one of its priorities and the coalition is looking to insulate 3.5 million homes and businesses in just two years from autumn 2012. This will all come under the flagship Green Deal policy.
Energy secretary Chris Huhne has also said he wants to get tough on the UK’s energy suppliers.
The major suppliers have all raised their gas and electricity prices recently, and Huhne wants to give smaller companies the chance to compete.
He said: “The best guarantee of a good deal is more competition for your pound. We want to encourage new small companies to come into the market.
“It’s not fair that big energy companies can push their prices up for the vast majority of their consumers – who do not switch – while introducing cut-throat offers for new customers that stop small firms entering the market. That looks to me like predatory pricing. It must and will stop.”
Energy watchdog Ofgem will also have a lot more power and there’ll be measures introduced to make sure customers get a better deal.
Huhne said: “I want to help households save money. With simpler charging; clearer bills; quicker switching.”