By the year 2020, commercial buildings can reduce their carbon emissions by a third, according to the Carbon Trust.

They suggest that a net benefit of £4 billion pounds could be made by using energy efficient measures on all commercial buildings in the UK.

The Confederation of British Industry’s recent survey revealed that a number of businesses are already implementing energy efficient measures to help reduce their carbon footprint and lower costs. In the past year one-third of businesses have switched their energy supplier.

Installation of lighting and heating controls are recommendations for achieving these targets. After the year 2020, the installation of ground source heat pumps and triple glazing would be standard also.

Head of building strategy at Carbon Trust, Stuart Farmer, said, “ Commercial and public buildings offer the UK a big bang for its carbon reduction buck. But it won’t just happen on its own; energy efficiency needs to be the first and second priority.” He added that measures need to be put in place so that the UK reaches its carbon reduction commitment. This would include a programme in which energy suppliers would “install simple, low cost energy efficiency measures in SME buildings.”

©2012 MoneyBlog. All Rights Reserved.

The Queen discusses a new Energy Bill during her speech this year, with a new bill that includes over 150 million pounds to help Britons with the cost of fuel.

Low-income people will be helped through a rebate, along with another program designed to help reduce energy bills of around a million customers. Ofgem will also be given greater power to protect users from unfair fuel prices.

Last year, about 4.4 million households were suffering from fuel poverty and over 3 million of those households were in England. Fuel poverty is caused by not enough personal income, rising energy prices and homes that are not energy efficient.

To solve this problem in the long term, more money is needed to make homes more energy efficient and energy companies will need to be closely watched as prices go up.

©2012 MoneyBlog. All Rights Reserved.

Motorists all over England are cutting back on their driving when they can. With less cash than ever, they are looking to downsize their vehicles and reduce the number of cars in the family.

Although the average cost of motoring has fallen by about 5%, and despite lower fuel costs, most car owners questioned by the RAC believe the price for running their car has risen. Of those questioned, 28% are using their car less and 6% have downsized to a smaller car for reducing fuel costs. Some motorists are cutting back and downsizing due to concerns for the environment and the government scrappage scheme.

According to Adrian Tink, Motoring Strategist for the RAC, motorists are really questioning how they use their cars and this shows people are really ready to make important lifestyle changes for their families and to save money. Still, some people are unable to do this because of difficulties with public transporation, family needs and lack of alternatives.

At the same time VAT was reduced by 2.5%, government fuel duty was raised by 2p per litre. It is likely fuel duty will not be reduced when the VAT rises back to its old levels and this will make motoring even more costly next year.

©2012 MoneyBlog. All Rights Reserved.

A committee of MPs has revealed plans for a shake up in the way winter fuel payments are dealt out to the elderly. Under the new plans, around 200,000 pensioners on a higher tax rate would see their payments stopped altogether, while others could see the money become taxable.

The government wishes to use the money to help the fuel poor, with the payments taken away or taxed for wealthier individuals, the government would have ?250m free to spend on helping those classified as in ?fuel poverty? – where more than 10% of the household income in spend on bills for gas and electricity. The report from the Environment committee said over five million households experienced this level of poverty in the winter of 2008.

Currently the winter fuel allowance pays ?250 a year to the over 60s and ?400 to the over 80s. Despite paying out over ?2.7bn in payments during winter, the reported suggested that only around 12% of those in receipt of the payment could actually be classed as fuel poor under the government?s own definition.
It called for money gained on taxing the payments to be spent on energy efficient programs for those who are truly in need and said that current energy efficiency programs were disorganised and needed to be merged into a single program.

Leading charity Age Concern called the report a ?wake-up call for the government?.
Energy Expert for Consumer Focus, Jonathan Steam said: ?It is outrageous that there are still more than five million vulnerable households struggling to afford to heat and power their homes. The government’s current energy efficiency schemes are simply not up to scratch. Immediate investment is needed in a radical and coordinated action plan if we are to lift millions of the poorest pensioners, families and disabled people out of fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions.”

©2012 MoneyBlog. All Rights Reserved.