READING’S Green party says one of the solutions to the cost of living crisis is to spark a retrofit revolution.
The party wants to create a ground-up approach to insulate social housing, which it says can cut fuel bills, create jobs and slash carbon emissions.
It says that in Reading there are 7,000 households living in fuel poverty and are unable to heat their homes as a result of the energy price cap rising.
But an initiative being implemented by Green-led Lewes Distict Council could be answer.
It is encouraging councils to work together to insulate social housing.
The party says that by focusing initially on social housing, a local, stable supply chain and workforce can be created and lead to economies of scale that will help bring down the price of retrofitting for all households, including those in the private sector, Greens argue.
Green councillor Rob White and Park ward candidate said: “The cost of living crisis leaves many low income households having to choose between heating and eating.
“Insulating homes can reduce fuel bills by hundreds of pounds. We need a programme to lift people out of fuel poverty while creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.
“Greens are showing leadership, demonstrating how we can do things differently, by implementing a ground-up approach, where local councils in an area work collaboratively together to insulate social housing.
“For too long successive governments have ignored the urgency of addressing our leaky homes and any attempts they have made, for example through the Green Homes Grant, have failed.”
He added: “By pooling resources, neighbouring councils can create the necessary funding and ensure there is a locally trained workforce that can both deliver a retrofit programme and boost the local economy. Developing a guaranteed pipeline of work and economies of scale means private rented accommodation and homeowners can benefit from cheaper retrofitting too.
“Greens are bringing about change for the better – cutting fuel bills, creating hundreds of new jobs and slashing carbon emissions.”
