“Homes Fit for Heroes” David Lloyd George
An often misquoted promise made just after the First World War. A promise in numerous forms by the British Government and ever since then are as rare in achievement as rocking horse droppings.
The houses built on Lloyd George’s promise, one for the most part still occupied; indeed, we have the oldest housing stock in the whole of Europe. More than 8 million need to be brought up to a condition which will reduce their energy use and their energy bills and for the sake of our planet, the CO2.
About 30% of the total stock are held by Councils and Housing Associations, who don’t have the same goals, the same sources of funding and don’t have medium term plans, God help us all in the long term, we are all dead!
There are a million folk in need of a home and 250,000 + empty. Why can’t the political class have a long-term plan that is not tinkered with every time they change a minister? Let alone a government.
They have had another COP meeting in a nice warm place in five-star accommodation. I spent my Christmas break revising my knowledge of these debates which start in the mid 1990’s “Net Zero” by 2050 …….not a chance in hell!
I have for decades taught a basic credo of what motivates change. Give people a goal – what should they do – tell them how they can do it – give them something to judge how they are doing, and finally give them a reward for doing it! It's not very difficult but it must be consistent.
The Latest incentive, the Green Homes Grant fell off its perch in about 9 months. It suffered the fate of many short-term headline schemes suffering from “Parkinson’s Law”. Do yourself, and your family a long-term service, look for a CO2 diet in everything you do!
by David Evans MBE
Founder of Matilda’s Planet and other things
