Renewable heating methods 'will help reduce emissions'

Increased uptake of renewable methods of heating British homes will reduce emissions while also cutting the UK's reliance on imported fossil fuels as gas and oil stocks beneath the North Sea begin to die out, it is suggested.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne claims that the newly outlined Renewable Heat Incentive is the world's first financial assistance programme dedicated to addressing the types of energy source used in warming homes and other structures.

It has been created in light of the fact that heating - and not electricity generation - accounts singularly for roughly half of the country's total carbon output.

By switching to techniques like solar thermal, biomethane, ground source and biomass installations, it is hoped UK households and businesses will reduce emissions while helping the country's developing green sector to grow.

Non-domestic, large-scale users are first to be targeted under the scheme, which is then to transition to a second phase which includes domiciles.