3rd Jul 2008

Renewable Heat

Energy security will come from investments in insulation, in far more efficient white goods, and in renewable heat

The reason that energy bills are rising in Coventry is the fuel that we use. We heat our homes with oil and gas, but we are entering an era that will be defined by a peak in the supply of oil, as well as a growing dependence on a few countries (Russia, Iran) with large supplies of natural gas.

In response to this, we need energy security. Energy security won't come from hopeful letters from the city council to Malcolm Wicks. Energy security won't come from Gordon Brown urging Saudi Arabia to pump even more oil.

The Green Party on Kirklees Council (in Huddersfield) introduced the country's first universally-free insulation scheme. Any household, no matter what their income, qualifies for free cavity wall and loft insulation. It will save over £4.5 million in fuel bills, and it will create over 100 new local jobs.

Coventry could be a pilot city for only A and B rated white goods (ovens, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers) to be sold in stores.

We need to start thinking about not just renewable energy, but renewable heat. This can include solar thermal collectors, which heat water in pipes on your roof; wood-burning boilers; or air/ground source heat pumps. A basic solar thermal system roughly costs £1 800 and provide 80% of a typical family's hot water during summer months. A 20kW wood boiler can cost £5,000.

Scott Redding, local party coordinator for the Coventry Green Party, said:

"We need to concentrate more on how our homes are powered, not just plastic bags or switching off the TV from standby or recycling."

"I'd like to see a lot more discussion in Coventry about renewable forms of heat. We need a multi-year, multi-million pound public/private partnership to make renewable forms of heat affordable to working-class families in Coventry."

For more information, please contact Scott Redding, on 07906 316 726, or at: sgredding2003@yahoo.co.uk