British Gas has teamed up with 16 local authorities to offer households a one-off reduction in their council tax if they fit cavity wall insulation. The scheme, to be funded through the energy efficiency commitment, follows a successful pilot project in Braintree which saw around 250 installations in the first 6 months alone. British Gas will install subsidised cavity wall insulation for £175, instead of the market price of about £430. On top of this saving, householders can claim a rebate on their council tax of at least £50. Three local authorities, Braintree, Taunton Dean and Salford, have promised to match the funding from British Gas, increasing the rebate to £100. British Gas claims the households should save around £110/pa on their energy bills and should make back their investment in less than a year. The scheme could save up to 193,000/t carbon a year.
