In 1992, the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro highlighted, for the first time, the real threat of climate change on a global scale.

The following year, the UK Government established The Energy Saving Trust and set a target for reducing UK emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the greenhouse gas responsible for climate change - by 20 per cent of 1990 levels by 2010.

 

What the Energy Saving Trust does:

 

Their mission is to lead 60 million people to act on climate change.

They help people take action to reduce carbon in their homes and lifestyles by:

To find out more go to the Energy Savings Trust

 

Warm Front Grants are for people who own their own home or rent it from a private landlord and are on certain benefits. A grant can provide energy-efficiency advice, two energy-efficient light bulbs and a package of heating and insulation and heating improvements. This may include new central-heating, or repairs to an existing heating system. You could receive a grant of up to £2,700, or up to £4,000 if your home needs oil central heating.
  
If you have received a Warm Front Grant before, you may qualify for extra insulation and heating work, depending on the improvements you originally received.

 

Over 1.7 million homes have been assisted by Warm Front since the scheme started in June 2000. Last year alone, 268,900 received improvements funded by the grant.

 

To find out more go to Warm Front Grants

 

If you live in Wales, The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) is a Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative aimed at making homes in Wales warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. The HEES grant provides a package of heating and insulation improvements up to the value of £3,600.

 

HEES has made a real difference to the lives of more than 70,000 people by providing heating and insulation improvements to their homes. To find out if you are able to claim a HEES grant, please go to HEES Wales

 

If you live in Scotland, the Government has a number of initiatives aimed at improving homes and keeping warm.

Communities Scotland is the Government's housing and regeneration agency which co-ordinates community regeneration activities.

 

The Energy Efficiency Commitment or EEC was introduced in April 2002, by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and sets a three-year energy savings target for domestic energy suppliers. This will help reduce carbon emissions by improving energy efficiency in households. The EEC is administered by Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets).

 

This energy saving target is met through measures such as offering cavity wall and loft insulation, using energy efficient boilers, appliances and light bulbs. With at least half of these savings aimed at low-income consumers in order to alleviate fuel poverty.

 

The first EEC period from 2002 to April 2005, saw energy suppliers set an overall three-year target of 62 TWh total energy savings. The total was in fact exceeded, reaching 86.8TWh savings.

 

The current EEC period runs from April 2005, with a three-year energy savings target of 130 TWh. It is estimated energy suppliers will have to invest approximately £1.2 billion in order to meet the challenge.

 

For further information go to OFGEM

 

energywatch accreditedConsumer Focus accredited Tariffs endorsed by Greenpeace included Guide to Green Electricity Tariffs used

energywatch accredited - Tariffs endorsed by Greenpeace included - Guide to Green Electricity Tariffs used