Report lays out vision for ‘ambitious’ UK energy efficiency plan | Carbon Brief
An ambitious new infrastructure programme is needed to help to decarbonise the UK’s buildings – and a sweeping new plan shows what it could look like. The proposals, developed by Frontier Economics for a group of 28 NGOs, thinktanks, businesses and trade bodies, would also boost the economy and help to meet legally-binding carbon and fuel poverty targets, its backers say. In a new report, they present a range of policies which could be taken up or trialled by the government i

IS THE ENERGY COMPANY OBLIGATION (ECO) SCHEME FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS?
– CHANGES IMMINENT FOR FLAGSHIP EFFICIENCY SCHEME – ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITY MEASURES ALTERED – FUNDING CUTS LIMIT AMBITION THE ENERGY COMPANY OBLIGATION (ECO), THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME THAT GETS LARGER ENERGY SUPPLIERS TO INSTALL ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES IN HOMES, IS IN THE MIDST OF CHANGES – WITH NEW RECOMMENDATIONS SET TO COME IN TO FORCE VERY SOON. THEY ARE TO COVER AN 18-MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD BEFORE ECO FORMALLY RE-LAUNCHES FOR THE PERIOD 2018-2022. POSITIVE TWEAKS BUT

UK HOUSE PRICES: STAMP DUTY CHANGES SHOULD BE LINKED TO CARBON EMISSIONS
A leading think tank has called for homebuyers who choose properties that perform poorly on energy efficiency to pay more stamp duty. Under the proposal by London-based Policy Exchange, a £220,000 house with a poor energy efficiency rating would see stamp duty rise 30 per cent from £1,900 to £2,470. However, those buying an energy efficient home of the same value would enjoy a £500 reduction in stamp duty. Policy Exchange argues the move will push consumer interest towards en

TIME TO TEST GOVERNMENT’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMMITMENT
– EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT – THREE STEPS TO CHECK AMBITION – COST-EFFECTIVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE The Government is due to publish its Emissions Reduction Plan in the next few months. It aims to set the framework for emissions targets and our carbon budgets, while stimulating low-carbon growth. The background to the plan is that the Government recognises that – without additional policy measures – we will soon be very off-track in progress towards our national
