Environmental analysis news: Consumers 'need incentives to cut CO2 output'

People need to be given financial incentives to introduce technology and make lifestyle changes that benefit the environment, it has been argued.

Gordon Miller, founder of whatgreenhome.com, stated that offering money or the promise of substantial savings encourages consumers to install energy-saving and generating systems.

He said: "People will always react to money, that is the main driver for the CO2 argument. You have got to incentivise people."

Mr Miller cited the boiler scrappage scheme currently being run by the British government as one example of this.

He also pointed out that the introduction of the feed-in tariffs for renewable energy should help boost the sector and welcomed plans to introduce a "pay as you save" scheme.

The system is currently being trialled with homeowners in several regions around Britain.

Approximately 500 homes are expected to take part in the initiative, which sees households given interest-free loans to install micro-generation technologies, which are paid back with the savings from reduced energy bills.

Posted by Joseph Hutton