Page 7 - Gi_August2021

industry & government news

POORER HOUSEHOLDS IN UK SHOULD

GET FREE HEAT PUMPS, SAY EXPERTS

THE GOVERNMENT SCRAPPED ITS GREEN net zero emissions by 2050.
HOMES GRANT PROGRAMME
The letter also called on ministers
to remove environmental levies
from energy bills, to ensure it is
always cheaper to run a heat pump
than a boiler, and for grants to all
households not on low incomes, to
ensure that the cost of a new heat
pump is competitive with the cost of
installing a new gas boiler.
The signatories also called for the
removal of VAT on green home products
and services, and for changes to stamp
duty to reduce the cost of homes that have
been fitted with low carbon technology.
The signatories include the
Federation of Master Builders, Energy
UK, Friends of the Earth, the UK Green
Building Council, the thinktank E3G
and the CPRE countryside charity.
Mike Thornton, Chief Executive of
the Energy Saving Trust, said: “For
the UK to reach its net zero targets,
HOUSEHOLDS ON LOW incomes heating the UK’s poor housing stock, we need real pace and scale in rolling
should be supplied with free heat most of which is also draughty and out heat pumps. A fair heat deal
pumps in order to kickstart the market energy inefficient. The group also called will provide the confidence, clarity
for low carbon heating equipment and for insulation to be made available to and certainty which will unlock the
meet the UK’s climate targets, experts people on low incomes. investment required for this.”
have told the government. The government scrapped its Green A spokesperson for the Department
Heat pumps can currently cost Homes Grant programme to install for Business, Energy and Industrial
thousands of pounds to install, but the insulation and low carbon heating Strategy said: “We are already leading
more that are installed, the faster that after only six months, during which the way to ensure affordability and
cost is likely to come down, according a fraction of the homes targeted were fairness are at the heart of clean
to The Guardian. insulated, and there were widespread heating reforms, and more detail on
More than 20 organisations complaints of poor service. our approach will be provided in the
representing builders and construction Ministers are now working on a new upcoming heat and buildings strategy.
businesses, energy companies and civil heat and buildings strategy, which has “We are supporting lower income
society groups have signed an open not yet been published. The Climate households and vulnerable people to
letter calling for a “fair heat deal” that Change Committee, the government’s make homes greener and cut energy
would ensure people on low incomes statutory advisers, has warned that bills, and will continue to do so through
can gain access to heat pumps. bringing down emissions from the schemes such as the home upgrade
About 14 per cent of the UK’s domestic housing sector will be grant and the new clean heat grant from
greenhouse gas emissions come from essential to meeting the UK’s target of April next year.”

In 2021, NGN will spend three months obligations and hydrogen can play
preparing the site before demonstrations a key role as it doesn’t produce any
commence from late summer. carbon when burned.
Once completed at the end of the “Teesside’s vast industrial heritage
year, NGN will spend around six weeks and the location of other hydrogen
early in 2022 restoring the site to its projects in the area, including BP’s
current state. plans for hydrogen production, make
Mark Horsley, Chief Executive it a natural home for this project
Officer for Northern Gas Networks and we’re delighted that Redcar
said: “The way we heat our homes and Cleveland Borough Council has NGN CEO MARK HORSLEY,
JACOB YOUNG MP, CLLR
has to change to meet climate change approved our plans.” LANIGAN, MAYOR HOUCHEN

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15/07/2021 13:20
News.indd 2
News.indd 2 15/07/2021 13:20