Home green home

10.27.58am GMT Mon 8th Sep 2008

• RESIDENTS wanting to green up their homes can now easily take the hassle out of home-improvement thanks to the new Green Homes Concierge Service.

The bespoke service, which is a London Climate Change Action Plan initiative in partnership with Richmond Council, offers practical support for homeowners who want to make their homes more energy efficient and cheaper to run but lack the expertise and time to make this happen. Residents in the borough can now delegate the energy management of their homes to experts for a fee subsidised by the London Development Agency. Subscribers receive a year-long service that includes an initial assessment of their home's energy efficiency and an evaluation of possible improvements to reduce the home's CO2 emissions. Following the assessment, home owners receive personalised unlimited support that can range from providing a list of trusted suppliers and obtaining quotes to organising plumbers to installing new boilers and solar panels. The scheme is part of the Green Homes Programme included in the Mayor's Climate Change Action Plan, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions in London by 500,000 tonnes over the next three years. The average London home is responsible for about 50% of the householder's carbon footprint; residents in Richmond upon Thames have one of the largest carbon footprints in the capital. Retrofitting a home to reduce its carbon impact does not necessarily involve a total overhaul and can range from fitting it with energy efficient light bulbs, secondary glazing, a rainwater harvester and dual flush toilets to installing loft or cavity wall insulation, solar panels or ground source heating and cooling.

Cllr Martin Elengorn, Cabinet member for Environment, said: "Richmond Council is one of the best in London in terms of action on climate change so we fully endorse the Green Homes Concierge Service. Reducing a home's impact on the environment does not have to be expensive. Many improvements are simple and cheap but often expert advice is needed to get the ball rolling. We are currently working with the service's advisors on a series of community events and publications."

For further information and to sign up call 0800 089 0098 or visit www.greenhomesconcierge.co.uk