While many Britons may have been keen to invest in renewable energy technology in order to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve cheaper gas and electricity bills, they have been put off due to the need to first obtain planning permission from their local authority.
However, this could be set to change thanks to new government proposals aimed at helping households improve their home energy efficiency and lower their gas and electricity bills.
Will it become easier to be green?Housing and planning minister John Healey has proposed changing current regulations in order to allow businesses, property developers and homeowners to install air source heat pumps and wind turbines on their premises, without first approaching their local authority for planning permission.
The proposals will now be the subject of a government consultation.
In addition, people who have purchased electric cars in an effort to reduce their carbon emissions would also be able to install electric car charger points on streets and in car parks without needing to make a planning application.
"The people who want to greenproof their homes should get a helping hand, not a stop sign. Our planning rules need to catch up with changing technologies and allow people to take the small measures that make big differences," said Mr Healey.
He added: "Not only could this save up to hundreds of pounds in fuel bills, they will also help the environment."
What this means for home energy efficiencySo what will this mean for home energy efficiency?
Without having to first seek planning permission, Britons could find that it is a lot easier to boost their home energy efficiency through the use of such renewable energy technology.
And as such appliances do not rely on finite resources to power them - such as coal, oil and gas - they could have a significant effect in reducing households' gas and electricity bills.
Furthermore, as the technology is clean, Britons could also find themselves successfully reducing their carbon emissions and helping the environment.
