Greens pledge to tackle cost of living crisis with a retrofit revolution

  • A ground-up approach to insulate social housing
  • “Change for the better – cutting fuel bills, creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.”

The Green Party has pledged to tackle growing levels of fuel poverty and the cost of living crisis by supporting a retrofit revolution. 

Greens point to a ground-up model, currently being implemented by Green-led Lewes District Council [1], that will see local councils in an area work collaboratively together to insulate social housing. They say the programme will cut fuel bills, create hundreds of new jobs and slash carbon emissions. 

By focusing initially on social housing, a local, stable supply chain and workforce can be created and lead to economies of scale that will help bring down the price of retrofitting for all households, including those in the private sector, Greens argue. 

“The cost of living crisis leaves many low income households having to choose between heating and eating. We need a programme to lift people out of fuel poverty while creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions. 

“Greens are showing leadership, demonstrating how we can do things differently, by implementing a ground-up approach, where local councils in an area work collaboratively together to insulate social housing. For too long successive governments have ignored the urgency of addressing our leaky homes and any attempts they have made, for example through the Green Homes Grant, have failed. 

“By pooling resources, neighbouring councils can create the necessary funding and ensure there is a locally trained workforce that can both deliver a retrofit programme and boost the local economy. Developing a guaranteed pipeline of work and economies of scale means private rented accommodation and homeowners can benefit from cheaper retrofitting too. 

“Greens are bringing about change for the better – cutting fuel bills, creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.” 

Notes

[1] https://greenworld.org.uk/article/lewes-model-explained 

Local News

To top