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Designing for a changing climate
Can electricity meters be objects of desire? Could we have 'power pensions' where you build up credit for being energy efficient, then get free heating in old age? If you put solar cells on your roof, could you get together with others to trade electricity? Can we make energy interesting? Can we design our way out of climate change?
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Our top ten policy recommendations please vote

1. Home energy production

The government should underwrite a micro generation loan fund to finance renewable and low carbon domestic energy production. Energy utilities should be required to fit two-way meters and buy surplus household energy at a premium (as in Germany, Spain and Italy) to finance the investment and provide a tax-free supplement to householders’ income.
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2372

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

2. Power Pension

All improvements to the SAP energy rating of a house could earn credits for an energy pension (a Retirement Energy Bond) that would be convertible into free energy for householders of pension age. In this way, incentives for energy improvements would attach to the householder not the house.
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2264

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

3. Personal carbon allowance

All adults should be issued with a carbon credit card and an annual allowance of carbon credits, to pay carbon dues (designated in carbon units) for motor fuel, air travel and domestic energy. Unused credits could be sold to consumers with carbon deficits or to firms and governments needing to buy credits. People could earn more credits by installing home renewable energy generators, or engaging in CO2-reducing projects.
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2241

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

4. Home Energy Information

The government should require all new-build houses to be wired to enable monitoring of light and power throughout the home, and it should create a standard for household appliances to exchange energy usage information. The government should also stimulate the market for ‘home dashboards’ that would show householders their energy use in real time.
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2240

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

5. Energy retrofits as a mortgage condition

All new mortgages should include a condition for the borrower to improve the energy rating of their house, by carrying out the recommendations of the energy rating survey in the forthcoming Home Information Pack in order to achieve a SAP rating of 70. The cost of the investment would be rolled into the mortgage.
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2158

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

6. Promotion of domestic HOUSECOs (Household Environmental Service Companies)

The EST should encourage the establishment of Housecos to manage energy retrofits and the installation of new home generators, guarantee the work and provide bulk purchasing economies. HOUSECOs could also supply leased equipment, taking responsibility for maintenance, breakdowns and repairs.
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2030

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

7. Energy collaboratives

Groups of householders should be encouraged to form 'energy collaboratives' to lower the cost of retrofitting, share technical and procurement information, and provide mutual support. Members of an energy collaborative would receive discounts on energy support services and installations, and a premium on the sale of energy to the grid.
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1994

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

8. Home Energy Trading Scheme (HETS)

Ofgem should create a new category of ‘club supplier’ to allow households with micro-generators to establish energy trading clubs for the exchange of home produced energy, and the donation of surplus energy to local schools or hospitals, by-passing the electricity wholesale market.
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1942

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

9. 1 million roofs

The Energy Savings Trust (EST), Greenpeace and FoE should launch a '1 million roofs' campaign for domestic smart energy investment by fitting a solar or grass roof, a micro-wind turbine or CO2 saving equivalent. Cities, towns and neighbourhoods should sign up to the campaign to deliver their share by 2010.
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1928

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree

10. Deep Support Service

A new household support service should be established for able-to-pay households to provide auditing, investment, purchasing and contractual advice for those wishing to invest in new home generators and energy saving. The service would be financed through an expanded Energy Efficiency Commitment.
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1798

People have agreed
with this policy

I Agree
 
 
 

What next?

Which idea do you like best? Cast your vote by clicking one of the tick boxes. Want to know more about the design concepts that led to these ideas? Want to throw in some ideas of your own? Visit the concepts page.

  

How to find out more

Get tips on plugging the energy leaks in your home, look up key energy efficiency organisations and discover how to have your say on climate change, all on the useful links page.