Editor

Are we developing a green conscience?

There’s very little that’s certain about politics these days – except the fact that in the next few months we’ll be heading for the polls. Even though the starting pistol is yet to be fired, all of the main parties have started to campaign and the only things missing are the manifestos. One thing’s for certain, all of them will be playing the green card.

The Labour party has already done this with its Boiler Scrappage Scheme – which although clearly designed to be a headline-grabber – has galvanized the industry into expanding on the scheme by offering homeowners even more incentives for scrapping their old inefficient boilers.

Clearly, being green is a vote winner. The Green Party, which up to now has been a fixture on the fringes of British politics, is predicting some significant wins – they have set their sights on Brighton, Norwich and Lewisham. Even if they nab just one of these seats, it could point to a subtle shift in people’s thinking about green issues.

I’m beginning to think that people in this country are beginning to develop a ‘green conscience’. Maybe that’s because of rocketing fuels bills or increasing cold winters. Whatever the reasons, a ‘green conscience’ would be very good for our industry where the demand for renewable technologies will only increase in the years to come.

So let’s keep a close eye on the coming election campaign. Which party speaks for us, and which party really is green?

View the new March issue of Installer online.

Eoin McManus
Editor