https://www.metering.com/regional-news/europe-uk/uk-funding-energy-efficient-homes/
[There's a reason people who are paying attention call it 'catastrophic
climate change' and not the comforting, fuzzy 'global warming'. Of
course, the deniers use the current set of colder than recent historical
average events as absolute incontrovertible proof that 'global warming'
is a lie and a hoax. Then they whine about rising insurance premiums
and property damage. So, really, it's not a good time to be pulling
back from energy efficiency and conservation incentives.]
Report: Funding falls for energy efficient British homes
March 2, 2018
As temperatures drop across the UK, a report has been issued stating
that public investment into efficiently warming British homes has been
cut by 58% since 2012.
According to the report released by e3g, Scotland spends four times more
on energy efficiency per citizen than England and Wales twice as much on
insulation.
The report has been issued to serve as a warning to government to make
energy efficiency infrastructure a priority, ensuring homes are warm
enough to cope with chilly temperatures.
The British government has not challenged the figures, but state that
spending on homes has taken a more strategic turn and is better targeted
at low-income households.
According to Pedro Guertler from e3g: "Making our buildings
energy-efficient is the most cost-effective means of decarbonising our
energy infrastructure - it protects from the health risks of cold homes
and keeps our energy bills down.
"The priority for our infrastructure programme should be to make our
homes warm whilst slashing energy demand and bills."
Lack of energy efficiency is a deadly issue
The report states that, out of 30 countries, England has the second
highest rate of cold related deaths, with 9700 death per year.
e3g believe it would be far better economic value for the government to
spend £50bn insulating people's homes and ultimately saving lives.
Guertler added: "The government is committed to tackling fuel poverty.
The Warm Home Discount provides two million low income households with
£140 off their winter energy bills and the safeguard tariff cap is to be
extended to a further one million customers - so over five million
customers will be protected for the first time this winter."
The drop in investment occurred when David Cameron's government ended
all taxpayer-funded energy efficiency programmes in England. It also
halved the UK-wide obligation on energy suppliers to deliver energy
efficiency improvements.
"This is now widely considered by experts as a massive mistake," says
Guertler.
"The saving on energy bills from David Cameron's cuts were soon
cancelled out by energy price increases, while the energy efficiency
programme was cut back to the bone.
"Today's average annual household energy bill is £500 lower as a result
of the UK's energy efficiency programmes since 2004.
