This investment is the biggest public investment in local energy security ever made
The DESNZ community energy investment will fund local energy projects specifically designed to cut bills and create revenue for various places.
These projects will help to power places of worship, social clubs, and community centres as part of the Pride in Place agenda.
Local Power Plan funding will come from Great British Energy
With the intent of letting communities own and control their own power and community wealth, Great British Energy are funding the investment with government backing, putting £1bn into clean energy projects.
An example given of the projects includes solar generation on libraries, leisure centres, or miners’ welfare clubs.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Britain’s drive for clean energy is about answering the call for a different kind of economy that works for the many, not just the wealthy and powerful in our society. Local and community energy is at the heart of our government’s vision.
“With the biggest ever investment in community energy in Britain’s history, this government is saying to every local community: we want you to be able to own and control clean energy so the profits flow into your community not simply out to the big energy companies.
“By giving local people the chance to take control of their energy, this government is making a fundamental choice to transfer wealth and power back to communities across Britain.”
New build homes can save £400 per year on energy bills
Earlier this month, the Home Builders Federation (HBF), along with Octopus Energy, released a report showing that new build houses are energy-efficient to the point that homeowners can save more than £400 per year in energy and heating bills.
The report found that, on average, newer homes save 21% more power than older homes, and the newer energy saving technologies can add up to £6,000 to a homes value.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Home Builders Federation, said: “These findings demonstrate the real-world value of purchasing a new build home. New build homes deliver lower running costs and a smaller carbon footprint, providing homeowners with long-term savings and a more sustainable way of living. With energy prices such a major part of a household’s expenditure and increasingly influencing decisions around where and how people live, choosing a new home has become an increasingly practical and cost-effective option.”
Nigel Banks, zero bills director at Octopus Energy, said: “Better-built homes mean lower energy bills, and Watt a Save proves it. Our collaboration with the Home Builders Federation on this report highlights how modern, new build homes are cheaper to run and can slash carbon emissions. Add solar, heat pumps and batteries into the mix, and we can even eliminate home energy bills entirely.”
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