Contrary to the lyrics of Johnny Rotten, the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change do know what they want and they do know how to get it: The group is campaigning to give a quarter of all homes in the UK eco-makeovers. The Guardian reports that the ambitious plan will involve improving the insulation of more than 7 million homes and flats and could possibly entail encouraging homeowners to opt for renewable, small-scale energy systems like solar panels.

 

The goal? To curb greenhouse gas emissions and control “fuel poverty,” a term used to describe the 5 million British households that spend more than 10 percent of their income on heating and power bills. It’s projected that about a third of emissions in the UK would be slashed if the massive undertaking were to be completed by 2020. The project will also give the economy a much needed boost by creating thousands of jobs.

 

Sadly, a project of this scale is not without complications, primarily funding. British PM Gordon Brown has earmarked 1 billion pounds for the campaign; it’s estimated that total costs to re-insulate and work on small renewable energy projects at one in four UK homes will cost in the ballpark of $2 to $12 billion pounds per year. There are, however, various schemes in the works to help move things along. There will also be at least one pair of across-the-pond fingers tightly crossed in hopes that the campaign, in one form or another, finds success. 

 

Via [The Guardian] via [TreeHugger]