Refurbishment should go green, says body

The Existing Homes Alliance, a coalition of bodies from government agencies to businesses, housing organisations and green groups, has said a range of new reforms are needed to encourage green refurbishment.

Renovating homes in an eco-friendly way will be the only way the UK can meet targets for reducing emissions, the coalition has said, reports the Green Building Press.

Suggestions made by the body include lowering VAT for renovation work, giving stamp duty and council tax rebates, plus the introduction of more grants and low-interest loans to help householders carry out work.

Simon McWhirter, Homes Campaign Manager at WWF-UK, which chairs the alliance, said: "It doesn't take much to realise that more efficient homes would not only help in the fight against climate change but can also result in lower fuel bills for homeowners."

According to Greenbang.com, the top ten innovations to make homes greener include biomass boilers, living roofs and walls, thermal mass improvement through insulation and the use of recycled materials.