Mark today backed UK government plans for an energy saving revolution at home and work. The programme will operate throughout Great Britain.

Under the ambitious new long-term Heat and Energy Saving plan people will be able to receive expert, targeted help to cut fuel bills and access low-carbon heat and power in their homes.

People will be offered an energy audit, and the chance to have “whole house treatments” including insulation and low carbon heating supplies. This work could be paid for through a financial package that should mean overall savings on their energy bills. The Government's ambition is that at least 7 million homes across the country could benefit from this.

Mark said:

“I welcome these proposals. We need an energy revolution to keep energy affordable, secure and reduce our carbon emissions. The government is offering real help now for people to cut their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

“If we are to tackle climate change and reduce our emissions it will require a radical shift in the energy efficiency of our homes. Labour’s ambition is to support and help people to do this.”

“We can’t leave fairness to chance. Labour will ensure the vulnerable get the extra help they need. We also can’t leave tackling climate change to chance and to the enthusiasts. These plans will mean people can save money and the environment at the same time."

Ed Miliband, Labour's Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change said:

 “We need to move from incremental steps forward on household energy efficiency to a comprehensive plan.

“We know the scale of the challenge: wasted energy is costing families on average £300 a year, and more than a quarter of all our emissions are from our homes. 

“Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy are the fairest routes to curbing emissions, saving money for families, improving our energy security and insulating us from volatile fossil fuel prices.

“We cannot afford not to act. Back in the 1960s with the switch over to North Sea gas every home, every appliance was dealt with, house by house, street by street. That’s the scale of the challenge facing us now and it reflects the size of our ambition.

“Every home must be able to access the help and technology it needs, whether it be the installation of a ground or air source heat pump, solar-heating, solid wall insulation, or access to a district heating scheme.

“Most importantly, I want to ensure that help to meet the costs is available to people and that lower-income families don’t miss out.”

The Heat and Energy Saving plan has three elements:

1.       An “energy audit” on a street by street, house by house basis with offers of comprehensive advice.

2.       A financial package that will support “whole house” and in some places “whole area” makeovers. Pay-back is linked to the house not the individual, with people better off from day one.

3.       A commitment to ensure fairness in what we deliver and the way we deliver it. A community-based approach will often be the best way to ensure that we deliver these measures fairly.

For more information please see www.decc.gov.uk/hes