Home insulation fund

Ok, so here’s a strange move by the Government.

This coming week we have the Copenhagen summit, possibly one of the most important meetings for the world in the last 50 years. Our leaders are supposed to be going with a view to reducing the UK’s CO2 output (and to toughen the targets as well).

So why have they announced this week that the Home insulation fund is to be reduced? Warm Front provides a grant up to £3500 (£6000 in some cases) for insulation and modernising heating systems. People over 60 and families with children under 16 can apply if they are on means-tested benefits as can some on disablement benefits.

In real terms this is not a hugely costly initiative, (£369 million spent in 2009/10) and it improves the efficiency of the homes of the less well off. In previous years over 200,000 homes have benefited, this year that will be reduced to 90,000. Plus any future applications will be declined.

If the Government are serious about sorting out the energy use of British homes they need to keep this type of initiative alive – and build upon it. This follows last weeks announcement about smart meters which is massively more expensive and does nothing to improve the housing stock, although is very high-profile and more attractive to the politicians?

Lets hope in the pre-budget announcement on the 9th December some common sense prevails and the scheme is kept alive.

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