Increasing awareness of insulation discounts a "challenge"

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has claimed that one of the "big challenges" facing Gordon Brown's government is raising the public's awareness of insulation discounts.

Speaking at the Grand Designs Live show in Birmingham, the WWF said that if homeowners who are planning to renovate their home and land are not aware of the concessions then they will not take them up.

The government recently announced particulars of the Home Energy Saving Programme, including free cavity wall and loft insulation for senior citizens and those on low incomes and a 50 per cent reduction on insulation for all households.

Lucy Bertenshaw, senior campaigns officer for transport at WWF, said: "There might be financial incentives but if nobody knows about them then people will not take them up."

Statistics from the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes show that that the amount of heat lost in homes through both roofs and walls every year is enough to heat around 2.2 million properties for 365 days.