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Cameron pledges green home grants Cameron pledges green home grants
(10 minutes later)
More than three million homes could get grants worth up to £6,500 to improve energy efficiency if the Conservatives win power, David Cameron will announce.More than three million homes could get grants worth up to £6,500 to improve energy efficiency if the Conservatives win power, David Cameron will announce.
The Tory leader says 14 councils and London's mayor would pilot the scheme.The Tory leader says 14 councils and London's mayor would pilot the scheme.
The party says the standard upgrade would be worth about £1,500 of private investment which households would repay via lower energy bills over 25 years.
It comes as 192 countries try to pave the way for a new global treaty on climate change at Copenhagen.It comes as 192 countries try to pave the way for a new global treaty on climate change at Copenhagen.
But a Labour spokesperson described it as a "green con" and added: "Labour has credible, costed plans...not unfunded, unbelievable promises."
The Conservatives say the standard upgrade would be worth about £1,500 of private investment which households would repay via lower energy bills over 25 years.
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Cameron said if the environmental debate was limited to "well suited politicians .. telling people how to live their lives .. we are not going to get anywhere".In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Cameron said if the environmental debate was limited to "well suited politicians .. telling people how to live their lives .. we are not going to get anywhere".
"People do not like being lectured. You have to take people with you and the way to do that is to connect individual behaviour and rewards and help people see the advantages of going green," he said."People do not like being lectured. You have to take people with you and the way to do that is to connect individual behaviour and rewards and help people see the advantages of going green," he said.
Lower billsLower bills
The scheme to finance energy improvements like insulation, draught proofing and heating controls was first announced by the Conservatives in January.The scheme to finance energy improvements like insulation, draught proofing and heating controls was first announced by the Conservatives in January.
At the time they said energy companies would borrow money, underwritten by the government, to fit homes with measures determined by an independent assessor.At the time they said energy companies would borrow money, underwritten by the government, to fit homes with measures determined by an independent assessor.
Householders would then repay the money over up to 25 years through their fuel bills, but the Conservatives say they would still save money because bills would be substantially lower.Householders would then repay the money over up to 25 years through their fuel bills, but the Conservatives say they would still save money because bills would be substantially lower.
A standard energy efficiency package would cost about £1,500, say the Tories, but "harder to treat homes" would be eligible for grants of up to £6,500.A standard energy efficiency package would cost about £1,500, say the Tories, but "harder to treat homes" would be eligible for grants of up to £6,500.
The party says the standard insulation package would save households £360 a year on heating bills - of which they would keep £240, and pay £120 towards whoever provided the upfront investment for insulation.The party says the standard insulation package would save households £360 a year on heating bills - of which they would keep £240, and pay £120 towards whoever provided the upfront investment for insulation.
Mr Cameron will announce on Wednesday that the mayor of London and 14 local councils have agreed to pilot the scheme - which could also be delivered by retailers like Marks and Spencer, Tesco and energy companies.Mr Cameron will announce on Wednesday that the mayor of London and 14 local councils have agreed to pilot the scheme - which could also be delivered by retailers like Marks and Spencer, Tesco and energy companies.
The 14 councils are; Broadland, East Sussex, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hyndburn, Kensington and Chelsea, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, North Tyneside, South Holland, Suffolk, Westminster and West Sussex.The 14 councils are; Broadland, East Sussex, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hyndburn, Kensington and Chelsea, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, North Tyneside, South Holland, Suffolk, Westminster and West Sussex.
The party says the scheme would dramatically reduce carbon emissions, create thousands of jobs in installing and surveying properties among others and will save people money.The party says the scheme would dramatically reduce carbon emissions, create thousands of jobs in installing and surveying properties among others and will save people money.
When the plans were first announced Energy Secretary Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of having "no idea" how he was going to find the money to make homes more energy efficient.When the plans were first announced Energy Secretary Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of having "no idea" how he was going to find the money to make homes more energy efficient.
In the pre-Budget report last week Chancellor Alistair Darling announced plans to pay people £400 to replace old boilers with new ones - he said it would help up to 125,000 homes.In the pre-Budget report last week Chancellor Alistair Darling announced plans to pay people £400 to replace old boilers with new ones - he said it would help up to 125,000 homes.
The government's own Warm Front scheme provides a grant up to £3,500 - in some cases £6,000 - for insulation and modernising heating systems, for the over-60s and families with children under 16 if they are on means-tested benefits.The government's own Warm Front scheme provides a grant up to £3,500 - in some cases £6,000 - for insulation and modernising heating systems, for the over-60s and families with children under 16 if they are on means-tested benefits.
A Labour spokesperson said: "This is a green con. At the same time as saying they will cut the deficit, the Tories are making yet more unfunded commitments with no idea how they would find the billions their proposals would cost."