Declaration aims to make existing housing low carbon

A declaration has been produced from a conglomerate calling for the environmental augmentation of existing housing stock in the UK.

The Existing Homes Alliance has called for a range of measures that will help to tackle climate change and reduce fuel bills by improving current housing, such as tax rebates and grants for householders who invest in energy efficiency, 24dash.com reports.

Feed-in-tariffs, such as those seen in Germany, have also been recommended, which would see homeowners who adopt microgeneration sell any surplus energy they produce to the National Grid.

Major refurbishment schemes would be required, the alliance claims, but could see some 500,000 homes converted to become low carbon properties within five years.

Acting chair of the Existing Home Alliance Paul Ruyssevelt, who is also the director of Energy for Sustainable Development, said: "If we act now, and act decisively as a unified industry we can significantly reduce the impact that existing housing has on national CO2 emissions once and for all."

Supporters of the alliance include the WWF, the Green Building Council and Friends of the Earth. It aims to encourage refurbishment so that the UK can meet its target of cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.