Energy Action Journal (July 2010. Issue No110) has published Wood Holmes Consultant Dr Gareth Powells paper on the synergies and tensions surrounding the challenges of acheiving low carbon, affordable energy.
The paper points out that whichever political party had been succesful at the UK General elction they would have been faced with the twin challenges of tackling fuel poverty whilst simultaneously driving down CO2 emissions from the domestic sector.
He concludes that significant technical, regulatory and commercial issues still remain in tackling hard to treat homes (eg solid walls) and hard to reach communities (eg off grid). These problems are likely to get worse unless there a more consolidated mechanism for the delivery of the basics can be delivered: insulation, reliable and efficient heating, low energy lighting and sound energy advice.
