Government report includes radical proposals for meeting UK environmental targets

A government think tank has called for UK homes to have frequent MOT-style energy check-ups.

Foresight, a science think tank, is set to release a report comprising radical proposals aimed at meeting the country's green targets across the next 50 years, demanding smaller-scale energy production.

Plans include ways of making energy more visible, including “intelligent metering” within homes and businesses to emphasise the real costs of gas and electricity.

Buildings account for half of the UK's energy consumption and energy-efficiency assessments would help to meet targets for CO2 emissions. However, the government has so far had limited success in convincing businesses and homeowners to be more energy efficient.

The study blames inertia for this indifference, but suppliers and customers have said they are locked into centralised energy production.

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