Mayor invites boroughs to be low-carbon guinea pigs

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our or .

| Sourced From |

Ten Low Carbon Zones will be created in London at a cost of £200,000 each, to reduce energy use by 20 per cent by 2012.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has formally invited local authorities to start bidding for a zone in their area, which would see carbon-cutting measures and efficient energy sources for all homes and buildings.

The Low Carbon Zones could be as small as two streets, or encompass areas of 1,000 buildings.

The £3 million project aims to cut emissions in the zones by 20.12 per cent by 2012, as part of the wider aim of cutting London’s emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.

Mr Johnson said: ‘I am fully signed-up to taking the necessary steps to combat climate change and ensure we protect our planet. By doing so, there is great potential to deliver “green collar” jobs in the capital and I am determined to pursue this opportunity aggressively.

‘These energy-busting zones will create an armada of flagships across London, focused on finding the most effective ways to rapidly cut carbon and slash energy bills.’

The zones are expected to include measures such as home insulation, smart meters to help people regulate energy use, local power generation, renewable energy such as solar panels, and facilities to use waste as a clean fuel source.

Green Party London Assembly member Darren Johnson welcomed the plan but said much more investment and ambition is needed.

‘Given that it takes an estimated £11,000 for a home to achieve the 80 per cent cut in emissions needed, it is very disappointing that the mayor is only offering £3 million.

‘Unless much more in invested, only about 280 London homes would be made truly carbon friendly. To tackle climate change and cut energy bills across London every street must be tackled in a systematic way, with a plan to work through every ward in London.’

Mr Johnson announced his intention to create the zones last year. Applications must be submitted before 31 July by a local authority, which should be the lead in a consortium including an agency able to access funding from an energy supplier.

The successful applicants will be announced in September 2009.