British Gas set to tackle fuel poverty with new initiative
British Gas has announced plans to help boost the energy efficiency of some of its most vulnerable customers in a bid to help them reduce their electricity and Gas bills.
The company will be actively participating in the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), a Government-led initiative that aims to improve the provision of draught-proofing and insulation in more disadvantaged communities.
British Gas intends to spend £70 million on the programme, and has already signed deals with 10 communities who are set to take part in the first wave of the programme.
CESP is an innovative new scheme in which charities, local councils and energy suppliers will work in tandem to help 90,000 households reduce their carbon footprints. Collectively, the programme is expected to save over four million tonnes of carbon emissions.
According to Government forecasts, the programme will install £350 million worth of energy efficiency materials over the next three years.
British Gas' Managing Director Phil Bentley explained, "By focusing on homes and, in particular, vulnerable communities which have been traditionally hard to reach, we can make a significant impact on our national carbon footprint and cut the bills of Britain's most hard-pressed families."
Joan Ruddock, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, added, "The CESP will help the lowest income households across Britain tackle fuel poverty."
By boosting their energy efficiency, these households will be able to use less gas and electricity, and will thus reduce their energy bills significantly.
According to figures provided by British Gas, the average domestic energy user can save £365 per year by taking simple measures, such as installing insulation.
Gas: www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/
The company will be actively participating in the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), a Government-led initiative that aims to improve the provision of draught-proofing and insulation in more disadvantaged communities.
British Gas intends to spend £70 million on the programme, and has already signed deals with 10 communities who are set to take part in the first wave of the programme.
CESP is an innovative new scheme in which charities, local councils and energy suppliers will work in tandem to help 90,000 households reduce their carbon footprints. Collectively, the programme is expected to save over four million tonnes of carbon emissions.
According to Government forecasts, the programme will install £350 million worth of energy efficiency materials over the next three years.
British Gas' Managing Director Phil Bentley explained, "By focusing on homes and, in particular, vulnerable communities which have been traditionally hard to reach, we can make a significant impact on our national carbon footprint and cut the bills of Britain's most hard-pressed families."
Joan Ruddock, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, added, "The CESP will help the lowest income households across Britain tackle fuel poverty."
By boosting their energy efficiency, these households will be able to use less gas and electricity, and will thus reduce their energy bills significantly.
According to figures provided by British Gas, the average domestic energy user can save £365 per year by taking simple measures, such as installing insulation.
Gas: www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/
