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| Green drive 'neglects old homes' | Green drive 'neglects old homes' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The government must do more to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, says a committee of MPs. | The government must do more to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, says a committee of MPs. |
| A drive to build improvements into new and future homes has led ministers to give "insufficient priority to action on the bulk of the housing stock". | A drive to build improvements into new and future homes has led ministers to give "insufficient priority to action on the bulk of the housing stock". |
| Councils have called for a national home insulation scheme. Meanwhile, a new Green Homes service will advise people on home energy efficiency. | Councils have called for a national home insulation scheme. Meanwhile, a new Green Homes service will advise people on home energy efficiency. |
| The government said it aimed to cut old and new buildings' emissions. | The government said it aimed to cut old and new buildings' emissions. |
| It is part of a series of measures being launched by the government to make homes more environmentally friendly. | It is part of a series of measures being launched by the government to make homes more environmentally friendly. |
| Stamp duty | Stamp duty |
| The cross-party communities and local government committee said current housing policy "risks neglecting the environmental impact" of the UK's existing housing stock of more than 25 million homes. | The cross-party communities and local government committee said current housing policy "risks neglecting the environmental impact" of the UK's existing housing stock of more than 25 million homes. |
| Last year the government said it intended to make every new home built in England "zero carbon" from 2016. | Last year the government said it intended to make every new home built in England "zero carbon" from 2016. |
| But the report says a quarter of British homes were built at least 90 years ago and existing homes emit nearly twice as much carbon as new ones. | But the report says a quarter of British homes were built at least 90 years ago and existing homes emit nearly twice as much carbon as new ones. |
| The government's understandable desire to build improvements into future housing has led it to give insufficient priority to action on the vast bulk of the housing stock Phyllis StarkeyCommittee chair class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7324234.stm">'Zero-carbon' housing | |
| Measures including a national roll-out of "smart meters" to help people monitor their energy use, to stamp duty rebates for people who make their homes more efficient within a year of moving in are needed, the MPs said. | Measures including a national roll-out of "smart meters" to help people monitor their energy use, to stamp duty rebates for people who make their homes more efficient within a year of moving in are needed, the MPs said. |
| The committee also proposes that energy performance certificates, contained in Home Information Packs (HIPs), be required for homeowners seeking planning permission. | The committee also proposes that energy performance certificates, contained in Home Information Packs (HIPs), be required for homeowners seeking planning permission. |
| It said: "The bulk of our housing, however old and leaky it may be, is capable of the kind of improvement that will deliver the necessary reduction in carbon emissions without destroying the visual character and appearance that makes it uniquely ours. | It said: "The bulk of our housing, however old and leaky it may be, is capable of the kind of improvement that will deliver the necessary reduction in carbon emissions without destroying the visual character and appearance that makes it uniquely ours. |
| No mass demolition | No mass demolition |
| It said "imaginative solutions" were needed to bring new ideas and technologies to homes in which draught exclusion and insulation had already been fitted. | It said "imaginative solutions" were needed to bring new ideas and technologies to homes in which draught exclusion and insulation had already been fitted. |
| "We need neither a mass demolition programme followed by the construction of replacement eco-homes nor to preserve every last pre-1919 building precisely as it was on the day it was built. | "We need neither a mass demolition programme followed by the construction of replacement eco-homes nor to preserve every last pre-1919 building precisely as it was on the day it was built. |
| Committee chairwoman Phyllis Starkey added: "The government's understandable desire to build improvements into future housing has led it to give insufficient priority to action on the vast bulk of the housing stock." | Committee chairwoman Phyllis Starkey added: "The government's understandable desire to build improvements into future housing has led it to give insufficient priority to action on the vast bulk of the housing stock." |
| We have the strictest timetable for reducing carbon emissions in new build homes anywhere in the world Caroline FlintHousing minister | We have the strictest timetable for reducing carbon emissions in new build homes anywhere in the world Caroline FlintHousing minister |
| The committee said the biggest challenge was to engage millions of householders and urged the government to consult councils on how they could roll out large-scale insulation installations and other schemes. | The committee said the biggest challenge was to engage millions of householders and urged the government to consult councils on how they could roll out large-scale insulation installations and other schemes. |
| The Local Government Association also called for a national insulation programme, prioritising vulnerable households over 10 years, part funded by energy suppliers. Spokesman Paul Bettison said the cut in fuel bills would be the equivalent of knocking a penny off standard income tax rates. | The Local Government Association also called for a national insulation programme, prioritising vulnerable households over 10 years, part funded by energy suppliers. Spokesman Paul Bettison said the cut in fuel bills would be the equivalent of knocking a penny off standard income tax rates. |
| The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (Cert) obligation also comes into force this week, requiring energy suppliers to improve efficiency for vulnerable customers. | The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (Cert) obligation also comes into force this week, requiring energy suppliers to improve efficiency for vulnerable customers. |
| Housing Minister Caroline Flint said the government was "absolutely committed" to reducing emissions from old and new buildings and progress had been made. | Housing Minister Caroline Flint said the government was "absolutely committed" to reducing emissions from old and new buildings and progress had been made. |
| She added: "We have the strictest timetable for reducing carbon emissions in new build homes anywhere in the world and by making the right changes to existing homes we can make a massive contribution to reducing carbon emissions." | She added: "We have the strictest timetable for reducing carbon emissions in new build homes anywhere in the world and by making the right changes to existing homes we can make a massive contribution to reducing carbon emissions." |