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Jenny Jones and Rachel Zatz at the Maiden Lane estate
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Greens kick off campaign to install solar
panels on estates
ELECTRICITY bills could become a thing of the past
for council tenants, according to the Green Party.
London Assembly member Jenny Jones joined the Green Party’s
candidate for Cantelowes ward, Rachel Zatz, at the Maiden Lane
estate in Camden Town on Friday to launch a campaign to place
the solar-panel technology on council homes – which they
say will slash fuel bills.
Solar panels would cost £3-4,000 to install for a private
home. The Greens say the money would have been made back in
electricity savings after seven years.
They admited powering a whole estate would be different because
the council would have to pay for the installation, but said
there would be long-term rewards.
Ms Zatz – who has lived on the Maiden Lane estate for six
years – said: “We want to make the estate part of
the council’s renewable energy project.”
Ms Jones, former deputy Mayor of London, added: “Councils
have seen solar panels as pie in the sky in the past but we
all have to take responsibility for the environment. Who wouldn’t
want their bills to go down?”
“There may be a high cost for installation at the beginning,
but there will be less sickness if people do not have to worry
about electricity and warmth.”
A Camden council spokesperson said: “We currently have
one pilot project for a solar panel designed to produce electricity
to be installed on Holly Lodge Estate in Highgate in May. One
has already been installed on the Caversham Road estate in Kentish
Town.
“The £11,000 trial scheme has secured £5,000
of central government funding and will help power communal lighting
and the lift motor. It is part of a five-year £300,000
scheme that hopes to help raise awareness about green technology.” |
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