The Energy Bill Revolution

An open letter published in The Times today by leading peers is calling for cross party consensus to make home energy efficiency an infrastructure spending priority.

The 5 peers who include representatives of all the major parties, a bishop and a crossbencher, say that far more investment in insulating homes is needed to tackle fuel poverty and climate change. The peers point out that the next Government will spend billions on infrastructure and some of these public funds should be spent on making the UK’s buildings highly energy efficient.  They say:

“This would deliver high levels of home energy efficiency investment whilst reducing energy bills. It would also play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions in line with carbon budgets, bring down NHS costs associated with cold homes, create jobs, tackle fuel poverty and enhance energy security. No other infrastructure investment can achieve as much. As the election approaches, we call for cross party support for this solution.”

The peers who have signed the letter include Lord Stern, the author of the influential Stern review on the economics of climate change, Lord Deben the Conservative peer who is now the Chair of the Committee of Climate Change, Lord Whitty who is a Labour peer, ex-energy minister and an expert on fuel poverty, Lord Teverson, a spokesperson for the liberal Democrats on energy and climate change and the Bishop of St Albans, a highly respected voice on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged in the House of Lords.This comes soon after 50,000 people signed a petition calling for this commitment from treasury team leaders.

Ed Matthew , Director of the Energy Bill Revolution said: “As the election approaches this letter shows that some issues should stand above the fray of party politics. It is a call for all parties to be united behind a bold solution to invest in making the UK’s buildings fit for the 21^st century to end the scandal of fuel poverty once and for all. These peers are to be commended for their leadership and inspiration on this vital issue and we deeply welcome their support.”

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Sir,

Investment in energy efficiency is the most cost effective way to cut carbon emissions. It also provides a long term solution to fuel poverty.

To fulfil this enormous potential, investment in energy efficiency must increase significantly in homes as well as in commercial, industrial and public buildings. This can be achieved in a way which will support the recovery of the UK economy.

The solution is to make energy efficiency a UK infrastructure priority.

All major parties have plans to invest billions of pounds in infrastructure in the next Parliament to help the economy to grow.  This is an unprecedented opportunity to build low carbon infrastructure fit for the 21^st Century. It should include plans to use public infrastructure funds to make all UK homes highly energy efficient.

This would deliver high levels of home energy efficiency investment whilst reducing energy bills.  It would also play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions in line with carbon budgets, bring down NHS costs associated with cold homes, create jobs, tackle fuel poverty and enhance energy security. No other infrastructure investment can achieve as much.

As the election approaches, we call for cross party support for this solution.

It is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Bishop of St Albans

Lord Deben (Conservative)

Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat)

Lord Whitty (Labour)

Lord Stern (Crossbench)

Read the letter on The Times site here.