The Government has earmarked £35 million to support the development and deployment of innovative technologies that drive up the energy efficiency of UK buildings.
The
energy efficiency innovation technology funding was announced today by the
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Chris Huhne announced a package of measures to help cut household
energy bills and help smaller,
greener suppliers compete with the
Big Six energy companies.
A DECC spokesperson said it was too early to provide any detail about the £35 million
energy efficiency innovation technology fund, but he confirmed it formed part of £200 million for low carbon technologies announced in the Government’s Spending Review in November 2010 and would support the Coalition Government’s "massive policy agenda" to get UK homes and businesses energy efficient.
Some 18 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions come from commercial
buildings while the UK housing market is responsible for 24 per cent of the country’s CO2 emissions. The Government has made 'retrofitting’ existing homes and businesses one of its key priorities. It plans to insulate 3.5 million homes over a period of just two years from autumn 2012, under its flagship Green Deal policy.
"With energy saving, we can offset the effects of higher prices and end up with lower bills," Huhne told the Liberal Democrat Party Conference, as he unveiled his package of energy saving measures.
Energy Efficiency Deployment Office
Responsibility for spending on innovative energy efficiency technologies will likely fall under the remit of DECC’s new Energy Efficiency Deployment Office, the DECC spokesperson said. This office, currently being established with its own chairman and director, will "provide a wider energy efficiency strategy based on evidence and analysis, strong programme management and a joined up view of the offer to the customer," a DECC release said.
Tough on Big Six
In today’s package of measures Huhne also announced he would "get tough" on the Big Six energy suppliers. They have all put up their gas and electricity prices in recent months and Huhne wants to ensure
smaller companies can compete with them.
"The best guarantee of a good deal is more competition for your pound," he said. "We want to encourage new small companies to come into the market.
"It’s not fair that big energy companies can push their prices up for the vast majority of their consumers – who do not switch – while introducing cut-throat offers for new customers that stop small firms entering the market. That looks to me like predatory pricing. It must and will stop."
Huhne also announced new powers for energy regulator Ofgem and measures to ensure consumers got a better deal.
"I want to help households save money. With simpler charging; clearer bills; quicker switching," he said.
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