Local energy schemes to receive govt funding boost - 16/01/2012

People looking to compare energy deals to get cheap gas prices may be pleased to hear the first schemes to receive support from a new government scheme have been announced.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change revealed 82 projects around the UK will share £4 million of investment from the Local Energy Assessment Fund.

A range of organisations - including parish councils, development trusts and voluntary associations - have been encouraged to apply for money from the scheme, which is to be used to promote the uptake of efficiency measures in local communities.

Winning bids include plans to open show homes demonstrating the benefits of solid wall insulation and initiatives to assess the energy efficiency of houses.

Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne said: "We face a gigantic challenge in the coming years to keep the lights on and energy bills down ... I hope that this funding acts as a booster rocket to the winning projects."

Encouraging people to invest in measures such as insulation may be increasingly important, as figures from the DECC suggest there will be a large fall in the number of lofts being insulated when the Green Deal takes effect, the Guardian recently reported.

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