The Energy Bill needs to be more ambitious if it is to succeed in getting householders to make their homes more energy efficient, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and WWF in a joint statement issued.

The joint statement marks the launch of the joint 'Demand a Better Bill' campaign, led by the FMB, WWF, Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and a number of other organisations. The organisations involved offer their support for the Energy Bill but says the Government needs to urgently define its ambition for the Green Deal, which is central to the Energy Bill, and show how it plans to realise this ambition. The joint statement urges cross party parliamentarians to support the Warm Homes Amendment to the Energy Bill and join them in "Demanding a Better Bill".

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Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB: "The fact that 42 percent of the UK's carbon emissions come from our buildings means that the Green Deal has enormous potential to help ensure the UK meets the requirements set out in the Climate Change Act of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. But time is running out if the Government is to succeed in its stated aim to upgrade 14 million homes over the next nine years. To do this, the retrofit work would need to be completed at the rate of 1.5 million homes per annum which equates to almost 30,000 homes per week or put another way nearly 4, 274 homes every day!"

Mr Diment continued: "Setting out a plan for bringing the UK's homes up to standard is crucial if the Energy Bill is to succeed. Additional incentives will also be needed, such as a cut in VAT for energy efficient works and a reduction in council tax for retrofitted homes. These incentives would help ensure that the Green Deal is a success and that the Government can achieve its stated aim to be the greenest government ever. But without a clear delivery plan and extra incentives the Government is in danger of becoming the most greenwashed government ever."

(CD/BMcc)