As the UK begins the gradual emergence from the Covid-19 lockdown which started in March, the chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed a £3bn package designed to ensure a green recovery which holds “concern for the environment at its heart”. This was announced on July 8th during the latest of Sunak’s mini-budgets, a feature of the UK government’s attempts to mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic.
In 2019, the UK government pledged to hit a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and this latest package is aimed at supporting that commitment in addition to helping to create jobs.
The £3bn funding includes:
£2bn allotted to a Green Homes Grant scheme which will enable homeowners and landlords to apply for vouchers worth up to £5,000 for insulation and other energy-efficient refits.
£1bn to improve energy efficiency of public sector buildings such as hospitals, schools, council premises, prisons, etc.
£50m to reduce carbon from social housing nationwide.
The scheme is scheduled to begin in September 2020 and Sunak claims it will:
Make 650,000 homes more energy-efficient;
Reduce carbon emissions by 0.5 megaton per annum;
Save families £300 on annual energy bills;
Contribute to creating 140,000 new jobs.
Reaction to Sunak’s announcement from industry leaders of diverse genres has been favourable. Syntegra, the environmental consultants, have confirmed their readiness to work on any appropriate projects stemming from the package.
Max Halliwell, Communications Manager for Residential Heating at Mitsubishi Electric, welcomed the announcement as evidence that the government understands how green measures will “build Britain back up post the Covid-19 crisis”.
Property and construction companies have signalled their support and the hope that green houses will abound and become an affirmative term to replace the hitherto negativity of the greenhouse effect.