Call for councils to do more to encourage use of renewable energy

Councils could be doing more to help save the planet, according to Matthew Criddle, head of eco insurance provider Naturesave.

He said: “Planning offices need more training on how to implement environmental legislation and local authorities need to start exchanging information on their experiences granting planning permission if they’re ever to gain enough confidence to ‘fast track’ future applications.”

“Once one house in a street has installed Solar PV, a neighbour will follow suit and so on, but councils need to kick-start this take-up of renewable energy sources by the general public if it is ever to happen.”

His comments come as Naturesave launches a pioneering new green energy household insurance policy designed to ensure that environmentally aware households, who have installed their own ‘green energy’ systems, have cover for the system equipment and guaranteed protection for the revenues they earn from generating renewable energy at their home.

The only cover of its kind in the UK, the Naturesave Household Renewable Energy insurance policy has been developed in response to rising demand for home energy systems, due to concerns about the environment and rising fuel prices.

Renewable energy technology is becoming more efficient and affordable, and many home owners are now seeing its benefits in terms of generating income as well as cost savings, and reducing their environmental impact.

The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system, in addition to a separate payment for the electricity exported to grid, and any savings made on the electricity bill by using the electricity generated. The monies paid depend on the type of renewable energy system and the amount of electricity produced, and the payments are in addition to the bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site.