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Cuts to green home improvement scheme 'sends chill to home owners'
21/10/10
Edited by Andy Jowett.The government's decision to cut the Warm Front scheme, which helps to deliver green home improvements for people on certain benefits, has been criticised by Friends of the Earth.
In yesterday's (October 20th) comprehensive spending review, the government announced the budget for the initiative will be reduced to £110 million in 2011-12 and £100 million in 2012-13.
After that, financial support for upgrading insulation and carrying out other energy efficiency work for vulnerable families will be delivered through the Green Deal and new obligations on utility companies.
The environmental group's executive director Andy Atkins said the move would "send a chill" through many households.
Elsewhere, the Treasury said Feed-in Tariffs, which provide monthly payments for installing sustainable energy systems like solar panels and wind turbines, will be "refocused" on the most cost-effective technologies in order to save £40 million in 2014-15.
In addition, chancellor George Osborne has committed £860 million to the Renewable Heat Incentive.
The scheme will start in 2011-12 and the government estimates it will drive a "more-than-tenfold increase in renewable heat over the next decade".
