17 October 2007
British Gas is encouraging home-owners to cut their carbon emissions, in what it terms "Britain's biggest energy-saving challenge".
The new year-long initiative, called Green Streets, aims to show householders the simple steps that they can take to make their property more environmentally friendly.
Eight homes in each chosen 'Green Street' throughout the UK will be used as examples in what can be done: from installing solar panels and improving insulation to switching to energy-saving light bulbs.
Managing Director of British Gas Phil Bentley commented: "For every £3 we spend heating our homes £1 is wasted because of poor insulation. And whilst strict standards on new build are needed, most of the energy being consumed is in the ageing homes we live in today. It is making changes in these properties that will give us the biggest carbon emission reductions.
"I am confident that the Green Streets campaign will show that simple changes can be made to adapt existing homes to help address this problem."
Research from the energy provider has shown big regional variations in household carbon emissions - with Hull homes found to be the 'greenest'.
Properties in the capital have a long way to go when it comes to energy saving, coming out at the bottom of the league table.
The government has the stated aim of cutting carbon emissions by 60% from 1990 levels by 2050.
Construction rules will also demand that every new-built home be 'carbon neutral' by 2016.
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