MP Helps Win Statutory 20% Target for Energy Efficiency

6.41.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 25th Jan 2005

A huge coalition of campaign groups is thanking David Chidgey, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, for playing a crucial part in the success of the campaign to obtain a legally binding commitment from the Government to improve energy efficiency in housing in England by 20% by the year 2010.

The Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) congratulated Mr Chidgey on the pressure which he and his Liberal Democrat colleagues put on the Government to ensure that they committed to this target.

The Government's commitment has effectively reinstated their former aim of saving 5 million tonnes of carbon from domestic energy efficiency. The Government have also ensured that this is a statutory duty on any future government, thereby safeguarding this energy efficiency commitment and helping to safeguard the environment.

Commenting, David Chidgey said,

"I welcome this long overdue reassessment of energy efficiency in housing. After years of pressure from the Liberal Democrats the Government has finally honoured one of its green policies."

Andrew Warren, Chair of the Sustainable Energy Partnership said:

"We are very pleased that David Chidgey MP played a party in persuading the Government of the need for a change of heart."