Today 3^rd March the Department of Energy and Climate Change has launched its “Warm Homes, Greener Homes” Household Energy Management Strategy.

David Kidney, Stafford’s Labour MP, and Minister in the Department for Energy & Climate Change says he is proud this policy promotes the energy efficiency of all the UK’s homes:

“I take particular pride in this strategy for two reasons. First, because it will help cut carbon emissions and cut our dependence on imports of energy from parts of the world where there is political instability. Secondly because it was an idea that many of us here in Stafford put forward because of our concerns for helping householders with their energy bills as well as cutting our carbon footprints and creating new jobs in the insulation and heating installation sectors.

“Reducing our consumption of energy really can make a difference. It helps us financially and it helps us create a greener future. There have many barriers to taking action, this removes them. It is about making it easier for people to do what is right. It removes, for example, the deterrent of upfront costs by providing “green loans” that can be repaid out of the savings made from lower energy bills. It shows how we can reduce the hassle of making the necessary changes as we move to a greener way of living.

“This new strategy is a clear way to help us take decisive action to make our communities greener, warmer and fairer. I hope that Stafford constituents will take maximum advantage from it.”

Here are some of the main points of the strategy, which is vital to help us meet the 2020 carbon goal:

• By 2015 every household will have installed loft and cavity wall insulation where it is practical to do so.
• By 2020 up to 7 million homes will have received eco-upgrades, including improvements such as solid wall insulation or renewable energy generating technologies. 
• The Strategy paves the way for Pay As You Save green finance. The key point of this is that it links the costs to the property rather than the individual. By doing this it removes the biggest financial barrier to action that we have faced up to now
• It also signals a move to a new, transparent and stretching obligation on energy companies
• An emphasis on partnership working with local authorities in delivery. This is important because it helps local groups who care about making Stafford Cleaner greener and warmer to play a key role in making this happen.
• Addressing Fuel poverty is a vital part of this plan so Priority will be given to those on lower incomes and the most vulnerable with energy companies required to provide help to these groups.