The possibility of 70,000 jobs being created by a home insulation programme to cut CO2 emissions shows the need for more energy efficient homes is 'zooming up the political agenda'.

Unite the union welcomed the independent research released by Friends of the Earth (FoE) which demonstrated these jobs in England and Wales could be created, if local councils slashed climate-changing emissions by insulating homes and businesses and fitting green energy to buildings.

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Gail Cartmail, Unite Assistant General Secretary for the Public Sector said: "The research is very much welcomed by Unite and shows that the impetus for energy efficient homes, businesses and public buildings is zooming up the political agenda.

"The research is ticking a number of key boxes - concern for the environment; the need for practical action to make homes and other buildings energy efficient; tackling fuel poverty; and the generation of some 70,000 badly needed skilled jobs. A similar scheme in Germany saved 200,000 construction jobs."

(CD/JM)