Home energy audits yes but Kirklees already doing more

Providing every home with a free energy audit could lead to UK household on average saving up to £230 a year on their energy bills and a total carbon dioxide saving of over 30 million tonnes, according to new research published yesterday by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr). The report says that the energy we use in our homes accounts for around 60 per cent of the average person’s CO2 emissions.

Photo: Standish woods

ippr’s report says that the Government, working in partnership with the energy companies, should roll out free home energy audits to the UK’s 24 million households by 2012. These would offer advice on the most cost effective way for homes to use less energy and could give annual savings of up to £6 billion on energy bills - but why wait? We need action now.

Schemes that goes much further are already in place - look at Kirklees with their scheme to provide free insulation (cavity wall and loft) to over 30,000 homes. The £14 million scheme initiated by the Green party will ensure that many households across Kirklees receive around £400 worth of insulation measures free of charge. The scheme will see £6 million of Kirklees funding matched by a similar amount from Scottish Power under their Energy Efficiency Commitment monies. Households benefitting from the scheme will see their fuel bills reduce by an average £150 following installation of the measures at a time of high fuel prices and growing concern about greenhouse gas emissions. In total it is expected that at least £4.5 million will go back into the local economy each year rather than into the coffers of energy companies.

This scheme has national significance. In addition to huge carbon savings it will achieve, it is the first scheme in the country that gives free insulation to residents whatever their circumstances. I've already requested that Stroud District look at a similar scheme - no answers back yet.