In the UK, firms providing green technologies and services for consumers will be hoping for a boost in the coming months after the UK government unveiled a raft of initiatives designed to help individuals reduce the environmental impact of their homes and communities.
UK environment secretary Hilary Benn unveiled a package of measures designed to curb domestic carbon emissions - including a new free advice line providing people with guidance on how to reduce their carbon footprint, plans for a �100m green homes programme - which will see the Energy Savings Trust launch a series of one-stop-shop advice centres - and a �10m Green Neighbourhoods project to cut emissions from 100 communities around the country.
Benn stated that the new services are essential to the fight against climate change - "because, if we are to stop climate change's worst consequences, changes need to be made in people's kitchens, living rooms and communities, as much as in industry boardrooms, parliamentary debating chambers or around the international negotiating table".
Details of the package include -
1. To make it as easy as possible for people to make their homes greener, Mr Benn launched the Act on CO2 Advice Line - so that anyone, from anywhere in England, can call 0800 512 012 to access a one-stop-shop for free, tailored, impartial advice from the Energy Saving Trust on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
On top of the advice on how to use less energy in their homes, callers can now get advice on how to save water, reduce waste, green their travel and connect to grants and offers from energy companies.
The UK government is providing the Energy Saving Trust with more than �100 million over the next three years to deliver a broader programme for green homes. It will be rolled-out so that, in 12 months, there will be a network of one-stop-advice centres around the country.
2. To demonstrate how communities can live a low-carbon lifestyle, the Green Neighbourhoods initiative will give a green makeover to up to 100 neighbourhoods in England with an aim to reduce their carbon footprints by more than 60 per cent.
Delivered by the Energy Saving Trust and backed by potentially more than �10 million over the next three years from the UK government�s domestic Environmental Transformation Fund, this will call for local alliances between householders, community groups, local authorities, energy suppliers, private companies and banks to bid for funding.
To receive funding, bidders will need to join together and commit substantial levels of funding from their own resources to help transform the environmental performance of a street or local area. This will demonstrate to others what can be achieved and how much money householders can save in the longer-term by working together and taking a holistic approach to energy saving.
The initiative will include a focus on hard-to-treat homes - such as Victorian terraces and poorly insulated tower blocks which often have solid walls or no loft space - in addition to properties that use oil or coal for heating, as they have no connection to the mains gas network. Other actions inside and outside the home will be encouraged also - including efficient street lighting and community energy projects, as well as better water efficiency and more recycling.
The Energy Saving Trust aims to launch a competition for funding proposals by the end of the year, with the first successful projects being funded from April 2009.
3. The CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) scheme, which came into effect on 1 April), doubles previous obligations on energy companies to help people make their homes more energy efficient and reduce household emissions. The total investment is estimated at around �1 billion a year for three years. Forty per cent of the work to reduce emissions will be targeted at the over 70s and people on low incomes.
It is estimated that over the next three years it will fund -