The Climate Change Minister visited Brighton and Hove today (Monday 9 May) as the government prepares to announce details of its Green Deal policy tomorrow.
The minister, Greg Barker, went to see an eco-home in Hove, had a round-table discussion at Brighton University and saw the steps taken to make Telscombe Civic Centre more energy efficient.
Mr Barker, Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, was invited to Brighton by fellow Conservative MP Simon Kirby, who represents Brighton Kemptown.
The minister, who is the MP for the Sussex constituency of Bexhill and Battle, met Mr Kirby, Hove Tory MP Mike Weatherley and Brighton Pavilion Green MP Caroline Lucas at the university.
He also met representatives of Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce at the university along with leading members of the sustainable energy community.
Tomorrow (Tuesday 10 May) his department will spell out details of the Green Deal, the policy to improve the energy efficiency of people’s homes.
Reality check
Mr Barker described the Green Deal as the “most ambitious programme of its kind ever attempted”.
He said: “I’m here for a reality check, reminding me what it will mean on the ground.
“The Green Deal, when it is launched next year, will unlock billions of pounds of new investment.
“It will be the biggest national home improvement programme since the war and will create a massive opportunity for British business.
“The excellent discussions today at Brighton University with people from across the city show that Brighton will be well placed to lead the way in this exciting new sector.”
The Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government has said the Green Deal would provide a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements.
Invest
The aim is to enable people to invest in making their homes, community spaces and businesses more energy efficient without having to pay any upfront costs.
And the cost would be recouped through a charge in instalments on energy bills.
Mr Barker visited Brighton University’s new £23 million Huxley building in Moulsecoomb.
There he took part in a round-table discussion with entrepreneurs, business leaders and organisations which are working with the university on ways to cut carbon emissions and improve sustainability.
