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Cameron offers every home a £6,500 energy boost
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor16.01.09
EVERY home in Britain will be entitled to up to £6,500 of energy efficiency improvements under Tory plans to slash carbon emissions, David Cameron revealed today.
The £2.6billion-a-year scheme, which could create 40,000 jobs and help 400,000 homes in that time, would be paid for by energy companies and underwritten by a Conservative government. Each household could save up to £160 a year on gas and electricity bills as they benefit from better insulation, smart meters and boiler controls.
The plans were part of a wider package to turn Britain into a leading nation for cutting greenhouse gases.
In an attempt to exploit Labour's environment problems over Heathrow, Mr Cameron also signalled that all Britons would be encouraged to switch to electric cars. A national network of charging points would enable motorists to drive long distances.
Last week Mr Cameron visited the Nissan factory in Sunderland, where, manufacturers say, electric cars will be built by 2011 that can go 280 miles.
Shadow energy and climate change secretary Greg Clark said that on average most homes would need only a basic £1,700 insulation package but those in London - which often have walls that cannot use cavity insulation - would be more expensive to upgrade.
He said the Tories were "proposing nothing less than an environmental and energy revolution, making Britain a world leader in moves towards a low-carbon economy. We will offer real help for families struggling during Labour's recession."
Reader views (2)
Its becoming clearer and clearer that CO2 has no impact on global temperatures. However, this message is being fought by single issue promoters, who's well paid careers depend upon sustaining the myth.
This nonsense with electric cars will be an expensive white elephant as the science supporting the CO2 link to temperature has been shown to be bad.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Paid for by energy companies i.e. paid for by energy companies customers i.e. the vast najority of us.
Underwritten by the Government i.e. underwritten by the tax payers i.e. the vast majority of us.
Come on Dave, you can do better than this, this is making Gordon look effective
- Andrew W1, London
