The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has launched the UK's first 'green homes' service to help Londoners cut climate change emissions by offering an easy, one-stop-shop for information on how to make homes more carbon efficient.

The flagship London Green Homes service is unique to the capital, and will offer a free comprehensive telephone advice service, a free website and a paid green 'concierge' service to provide a hassle-free tailor-made package of carbon saving lifestyle improvements.

The advice service will be highly flexible, offering Londoners advice on any actions to reduce carbon emissions from their lifestyle, and explain how best to save money on energy bills.

The London Green Homes service is part of delivering the Mayor’s Climate Change Action Plan - a comprehensive programme of initiatives to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025, including programmes for the capital’s homes, organisations, transportation and energy supply system.

-- Advertisement --

Sixty per cent of London's housing was built before 1945, compared to 40 per cent nationally so it is less energy efficient than the UK average. Over £4 million has been allocated to the Green Homes programme in 2007-085 and it aims to cut 500,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year by 2010.

The Mayor opened the service with Nicky Gavron, Deputy Mayor of London and Darren Johnson, a London Assembly Green Party member, at a specially designed life-size eco-house in Trafalgar Square.

The exhibition house named 'No 1 Lower Carbon Drive' will tour the capital to promote the new services, and to showcase ideas to 'green' your home.

Mr Livingstone said: "In London, energy use in the homes is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. But much of the energy we pay for in our homes is simply wasted, and there are simple changes we can make to cut energy use without any reduction in our quality of life - indeed the average household will save £300 if they carry out the Green Homes programme.

"We know Londoners want to help prevent climate change, and London Green Homes will provide the information and on-going support to enable them to do so."

The Mayor of London concluded: "I am proud that London is now leading the UK in offering a comprehensive and flexible 'green homes' service, as part of our wider programme to cut London’s carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025."

(JM)