This week the Government announced its plans for the installation of energy efficiency measures.
We strongly supported these proposals, describing them as a revolutionary approach to improving Britain’s poorly insulated housing stock. Some may find it surprising that the Opposition support a Government measure so wholeheartedly. We were right to do so: the Government’s plans were almost a direct copy of our own proposals from over a year ago.
In January 2009 we proposed a ‘Green Deal’ in which every home would be entitled up front to up to £6,500 worth of insulation measures, with the money repaid over a 25 year period. The saving made from the insulation would then be shared between repayment of the entitlement and lower bills for the household. Crucially the repayments would stay with the property, rather than the person, and so repayments would be unaffected by people moving house.
The Government immediately attacked this plan as unworkable and fantasy, and even went so far as to vote down a Conservative amendment which would have seen this pass into law in the recent Energy Bill. Over a year on, they have come round to our way of thinking, but their short-sighted approach has meant that we have lost critical months when work could have been undertaken to prevent at least some families from being cold in their own homes last winter.
This is yet another example of where Conservatives have been leading the way with visionary policies, only for the Government to play catch-up by pilfering our policies at a later date. Whilst welcome, this is too little, too late from our dithering intellectually bankrupt Government who time and again are proving themselves unfit to govern.
Comment by Michael Paskauskas on March 7, 2010 at 2:33 pm
What, pray tell, does your party intend to do about the impending shortage of base-load capacity? Please don’t offer micro generation or wind power schemes as a solution since these proposals are recognised as being inadequate for the needs of the country.Co2 sequestration? Unproven technology particularly on the scale proposed. If your party does gain power at the next election, green dreams will not be adequate.
Comment by Mark Demmen on March 8, 2010 at 9:58 am
Mr Hendry, I would welcome your response to Christopher Booker’s analysis of Conservative energy policy in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph.
Comment by Jack Hughes on March 8, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I know you need to appeal to floating voters – but the kind of people who like this eco-babble are unlikely to vote for you. Ever. Most will forget to vote at all.
Here is a link to Booker’s piece:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/7386628/How-will-David-Cameron-keep-the-lights-on.html
Comment by phil w on March 9, 2010 at 12:51 pm
This is no doubt heading in the right direction.
However, like alternative energy for cars, a break through is still needed to produce an economical source of sustainable power. But we are moving along rapidly and getting much closer to making dwellings self-sufficient. Much of the research at the moment seems to be in the USA where there is a scheme coming out to finance the installation costs through the energy companies who will recover these via a monthly/quarterly bill to replace the existing consumption charge.
The great thing about this, of course, is that, as new tech. brings about more economies, these will be reflected in deductions.
This, perhaps, is the sort of thing to be promoted by the new emphasis on technology being introduced.
Comment by Richard on March 9, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I would also urge you to look at the requirements of Listed Building, of which England has 1000’s. During our restoration process, glass for our windows had to come from Poland as they hand float glass and is thin. We should be allowed to install double glazing, but no English Heritage and Conservation do not like it. I am currently very tempted to remove all our oak paneling and install insulation, then reinstall the paneling to conserve heat. The roof is well and truly insulated, as are all gaps between floors – yet we still consume 1800 liters of oil PER MONTH during the six months of winter.
Unless consideration is given to Listed building, they won’t be lived in nor restored and, will therefore go the same way as many did after the war. The Council’s and English Heritage have been given too much authority, as they stated the building comes before energy conservation or reduced CO2.
Comment by Charles Hendry on March 10, 2010 at 5:52 pm
These are all really helpful comments and we will be publishing our energy policy paper shortly and will be available from the policy section of this website.
Comment by Chris D on March 13, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I would roundly object to double glazing being installed in listed buildings. English Heritage already offers a considerable amount of sensible advice on how to conserve energy in old properties, without the expense of double-glazing and, of course, without those awful artefacts called plastic windows.Our listed buildings are amongst the last traces of wonderful old architecture in this battered country and that includes the glass. Secondary glazing and thick curtains will go a long way towards preventing heat loss. If you’re not prepared to care for a listed building properly then don’t live in one.