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The government has entered the consultation phase of its new Heat and Energy Saving Strategy, which focuses predominantly on the domestic sector and small businesses.

During the launch, however, it seemed that the same comment was on everyone鈥檚 lips: we鈥檝e already had abundant discussions on reducing emissions within the zero-carbon homes draft, so do we really need another consultation?

This time round, though, they鈥檙e covering new, or perhaps more accurately, old, territory. The heat and energy draft, after all, centres on existing housing stock. If the government is going to achieve the ambitious target of an 80% reduction in overall carbon emissions by 2050, this is a sharp move. More than 70% of the houses now standing will still be in use when we reach the deadline.

Catching up

Initiatives such as district heating schemes and up-front finance for current home owners who switch to renewables are finally being brought to the foreground. Many of the schemes might be considered a tad overdue, seeing as domestic heat use accounts for around a quarter of the UK鈥檚 total CO2 emissions.

The government is starting with the basics and aims to supply cavity wall and loft insulation for all suitable properties by 2015.

On a more ambitious level, it plans to provide whole-house energy makeovers involving a broad range of energy-efficient and low-carbon measures to seven million homes by 2020.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband unveiled the plans, referring to the comprehensive national strategy as 鈥渢he Great British Refurb鈥�.

Renewable Heat Incentive

Cost incentives designed to encourage households to install renewable technologies such as solar panels, ground and air-source heat pumps and biomass boilers will be debated during the consultation.

A levy on fossil fuel providers would help with up-front installation costs, the remainder would be paid back through a percentage of the savings on energy bills. Payments would be made by whoever resides in the property to alleviate pressure on existing residents who may wish to move in future.

Discussions are also under way on the structure and banding of a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which would provide subsidies for any supplier of renewable heat or renewable fuel used for heating purposes. Unlike the electricity feed-in tariff, the RHI would be available at all scales, from households to large industrial facilities.

Business-friendly?

Many of the proposed new measures, such as the financial packages planned for home owners, may also be expanded to help businesses - in particular SMEs.

Other avenues to explore will include working with the construction industry to design a voluntary code of practice on low-carbon energy, and establishing an accreditation scheme for installers.

The government is encouraging new proposals during what Miliband describes as 鈥渁n open consultation, during which we are keen to hear from businesses as well as households鈥�.

Visit http://hes.decc.gov.uk/ before 8 May to have your say.

Strategy objectives:

• Ensure that carbon-pricing mechanisms provide sufficient support to CHP.
• Develop and expand district heating.
• Work with the construction industry to design an energy efficiency code of practice.
• Establish an accreditation scheme for installers.
• Introduce new financial packages to help homeowners with up-front renewables costs.
• Provide cavity wall and loft insulation for all suitable properties by 2015.
• Guarantee all homes have access to whole-house improvement by 2030.
• Provide a home energy advice service.
• Make compulsory smart meter installation.
• Roll out low-cost energy audits.