Quarter of homes will get a green makeover

Up to seven million homes in the UK will be offered a complete eco-makeover in a scheme to cut a third of greenhouse gas emissions from households by 2020 and slash fuel bills. Householders would also be encouraged to install small-scale renewable and low-carbon hearing systems such as solar panels and wood-burning boilers. Critics say that the targets will only be met if the insulation was good enough, the financial incentives big enough, and if people on low incomes had the work paid for to tackle fuel poverty. An announcement is expected in the next couple of days.