NEW ENERGY MORTGAGE COULD CUT WEST MIDLAND BILLS

1.44.09pm GMT Mon 30th Apr 2007

West Midlands households should be helped to follow the energy cutting examples of countries like Sweden to cut around £400 off energy bills each year.

Proposals announced by the Liberal Democrats show that a quarter of carbon emissions come from homes and a cut in this would mean massive savings on fuel bills.

The Party's 'Climate Change Starts at Home' plans would set innovative requirements for new homes that would cut fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions. These include super insulation to dramatically reduce heat loss and buildings designed so that most of the windows face south to make use of the heat of the sun.

The Liberal Democrats are also proposing energy mortgages, which are a long-term loan for energy efficiency improvements repaid through the householder's energy bill.

West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne has welcomed this novel idea.

Liz said: "Energy improvements often have a considerable outlay which puts many schemes beyond the affordability of home owners. But the new mortgage would make this more affordable and should ensure that energy bills fall by at least as much from the reduced energy use as it rises to pay for the improvements."

Energy suppliers will also have an increased role to play. Currently companies are required to promote energy efficiency yet the anomaly exists that energy companies make profits by selling more gas and electricity.

The Liberal Democrats are to break this link by proposing a scheme for companies to maximise profits by helping customers to become more energy efficient.