Councillors plan multi-million pound energy saving initiative

15 February 2007

Labour councillors in one area of west Yorkshire have pledged £6 million for a scheme which would see every home in the area become more energy efficient.

The initiative, entitled Warm Zones Plus, has been proposed by councillors in Kirklees as part of their budget, reports the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.

Implementation would take place over a three-year period and involve providing local homes with better insulation to cut levels of heat loss, reducing CO2 emissions and cutting heating bill costs.

The home improvements would be available free of charge for most people in the area, with only those on higher average incomes having to pay, although they would be eligible for discounts.

"Our plan is to help every household to reduce energy consumption and play their part in saving the environment," said councillor Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Labour Group.

Secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs David Milliband recently told an audience at the Globe forum that "the cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of investing in low-carbon solutions".