Polly Billington, Chief Executive of UK100, the UK’s only local authority Net Zero network, comments on the next phase of the UK Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which opened on Tuesday, 2nd August.
The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use, so it’s great to see that more public buildings will be insulated and supported to be more energy-efficient. Amidst an energy price and cost-of-living crisis, this is essential. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will help local authorities and cash-strapped hospitals save significant sums of money and accelerate action on Local Net Zero.
But this vital scheme only highlights the absurdity of the Government’s decision to scrap £1bn plans to help households across the country insulate their draughty homes. The simplest and most cost-effective long-term measures to reduce energy prices for some of the poorest households are seemingly being passed up at every opportunity.
We need to fix the roof while the sun is shining and before a freezing cold winter forces people to decide between heating and eating on a scale Britain has not seen before.
As the Green Home Grant has proven, local authorities are best-placed to lead an energy efficiency revolution. And they’re ready to lead but they need support. Any money for insulation and low carbon heating is welcome, but far more is needed, and we need to see it targeted at the people hit hardest by the energy price crisis.
Header image shows Polly Billington outside NEXUS in Leeds.
In June UK100 released its report, Yes We CANZ: Local leaders delivering Clean Air and Net Zero, which introduces the concept of “Clean Air Net Zero” (CANZ) — ensuring Net Zero policies include a clean air audit and vice versa. More on that story here.
