The government has launched three initiatives which it hopes will lower carbon emissions from homes.

Residential properties are, the government say, the largest contributor to the island’s carbon emissions, levels which require addressing if the island is to reach its target of zero net emissions by 2050.

The initiatives have been designed to make it easier for people to make changes to their homes and improve their energy efficiency.

They include refreshing the government’s energy efficiency scheme to provide up to £1,000 towards home improvements, which any single person earning up to £29,000 or £43,000 for a jointly assessed couple can apply.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is seeking expressions of interest for an energy efficiency survey to test air tightness in a range of different house types in the island, for this, residents can apply for £100 towards the cost of the testing.

And a retrofit ideas competition to encourage architects and others to generate ideas on how to improve existing housing to use less energy has been launched. The winner will be announced at the Biosphere Awards in September and will receive a prize of £5,000.

Environment Minister Mr Boot said: ’Residential properties are the largest contributor to carbon emissions in the island and alarmingly this figure is continuing to increase.

’The government has recognised a climate change emergency and if we are to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 then we must all start to make immediate changes to our lifestyles and in our homes.’

Mr Boot told the Examiner why his department believes that the refreshed efficiency scheme should work better than the previous attempt.

He said: ’When we initially launched it, the income limits were badly misunderstood because we were talking about after-tax income when the reality is that a single person earning up to £29,000 a year or a couple earning £43,000 combined income will qualify for the scheme.

’On top of that I believe the agenda is changing with the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, there is more emphasis on energy efficiency.

’It is obvious to us that in residential and business properties - but residential particularly - insulation standards and energy efficiency need to improve and this is an opportunity for people.’

Mr Boot reiterated that the government plans to end fossil fuel boiler installations by 2025 in new build properties was ’realistic’, but recognising the relative size of the island’s market, he added it wouldn’t happen overnight.