The UK government is developing what it calls its ‘Low Carbon Building Programme’ to promote small renewable technologies, at a cost of £30 million over the next three years. The LCBP aims to reduce carbon emissions from buildings by combining small renewable energy technologies with efficiency measures. The energy minister Malcolm Wicks called on players in the energy field to expand the microgeneration sector, and highlighted school buildings as a particular opportunity.
I think it's admirable that the UK is promoting microgeneration, one of the best short and long term solutions to reducing carbon emissions and our reliance on oil. While this is a positive step, it really is just extending existing financial support for renewables that was due to run out next year. And though £30 million may sound a lot, it's still a lot less than the subsidies handed out to the oil industry by the UK, US and other first world countries.
