Brits 'Green deal'

For energy-efficient homes begins parliamentary journey

Bill provides homeowners with up to £6,000 for insulation and places legal obligations on power companies to cut emissions

The government estimates that 14m of the UK’s 27m homes would benefit from cavity, solid wall or loft insulation. Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

8 December 2010 - A flagship coalition policy to provide homeowners with thousands of pounds to make their properties more energy-efficient will be introduced to parliament today.

The energy security and green economy bill is expected to place legal obligations on power companies to cut the greenhouse gas emissions in their customers' homes. It is expected to allow the companies to offer incentives, such as holidays abroad, to encourage take-up of the "green deal" loans.

Chris Huhne, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, has signalled that other incentives to install energy-saving measures may include rebates on council tax bills or, in future, reductions in the stamp duty paid by homebuyers. Huhne has been working on the incentives with Downing Street's so-called "nudge unit" – the behavioural insight team. {read rest}