CIH urge energy efficiency

The energy efficiency of the UK's existing housing stock should be improved by a long-term government led programme, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has urged.

Sarah Webb, CIH chief executive, said that making homes energy efficient is required to "protect some of the most vulnerable households in the country", after British Gas announced increases in household fuel prices.

Mrs Webb dismissed government fuel tax credits as a viable alternative to insulation and other sustainable energy techniques, as they are an "increasingly expensive short-term gap" that do not address the issue of how much energy we use.

"The prospect of spending more and more money on subsidising fuel bills is not the answer," Mrs Webb insisted.

"It is not sustainable how ever you look at it - not only will it eat in to precious public funds, but it will do little to dampen our demand and consumption of energy or cut carbon emissions," she added.

British Gas provoked consumer anger this week by announcing household gas price increases of 35 per cent, a day before its parent company Centric revealed pre-tax profits of £1 billion for the first half of 2008.

UK Property News posted on 01/08/2008 14:12:18