Yesterday Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne announced details of the Green Deal, a new and radical way of making energy efficiency improvements available to everyone – whether people own or rent their properties. The Green Deal will enable everyone to have a chance to save energy, cut their bills and tackle climate change, just as the Lib Dems promised in our manifesto.Over the next two years, we will almost double insulation rates, ensuring an extra 3.5 million homes benefit from new installations with targeting for the most vulnerable and low-income households, so that those who need it most can say goodbye to heat leaking lofts and chilly drafts. Apart from saving the planet it will help keep people well.

The Green Deal should also create 100,000 new jobs making Britain greener.

Then from 2012 the Green Deal will enable ALL householders to improve their homes with no up-front cost, with the work being paid back from savings on energy bills. Householders will be protected by an independent energy survey and accredited installers to ensure that installation standards are high.
As a Liberal Democrat I believe that no one should miss out on warmer homes. Unfortunately many private tenants were let down by Labour. In

East Dulwich ward alone of the 3,500 roofs 649 have zero loft insulation. Crazy with many due to landlords having no interest in energy efficiency. This is bourne out nationall with over half a million private rented homes have the very lowest F or G energy rating, and yet they benefited from only two per cent of the previous Labour insulation schemes.The Green Deal will change this. Landlords will face no upfront cost and will benefit from improved properties. By 2015 every tenant should be able to be warm in their home. I hope and expect that landlords will respond positively to the Green Deal. But if the evidence shows that they are failing to take up this once-in-a-generation opportunity, Chris Huhne has made it clear the national government will respond. If necessary he has stated he will create powers so that by 2015, any tenant who asks for a Green Deal cannot be refused. Potentially giving local authorities the power to insist that landlords improve the worst performing homes. The fight against climate change and chaos took a huge step forward this week.

Have you insulated your home?

Could you do more?Will you join in with the Green Deal?Click here to find out more about the Green Deal