One third act on energy performance certificates

Environmental charity Friends of the Earth (FE) has welcomed government research revealing a third of UK homeowners are set to employ home improvement advice contained within energy performance certificates (EPCs).

Last week the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) published research into the impact of the controversial home information pack (Hip) scheme showing strong support for the energy saving elements of the document.

However, while welcoming the findings and acknowledging the progress made, FE has called on the government to offer financial incentives to those willing to make ecologically friendly changes.

"This survey shows EPCs can play a powerful role in encouraging homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their property," said FE's green home campaigner, Dave Timms.

"If they act on this information they will save money on energy bills and cut their carbon emissions. However, there is a big difference between knowing what you can do and actually doing it."

Friends of the Earth is also calling for Hips to be made compulsory when a property is first put on the market.

At present a Hip must only be finalised at the completion of a sale.

The pressure group is also calling on chancellor Alistair Darling to make concessions to green interests in this weeks budgets.

Among the FE suggestions are:

• A stamp duty rebate for people installing renewable technologies or energy efficiency measures in their homes.
• Funds for councils to give council tax rebates for people installing energy efficiency measures in their homes.
• An increased tax break to encourage landlords to invest in making their properties energy efficient.

"The chancellor promised to put sustainability at the heart of next week's Budget. With over a quarter of UK carbon emissions coming from our homes, Mr Darling must make it cheaper and easier for us all to go green," concluded Mr Timms.