MP turns to chip power as oil soars

A FORMER environment minister and Oldham MP is set to fit his house with air-heat pumps and a woodchip burner as the price of oil continues to rise.

Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said the move is not only environmentally friendly but will prove financially sound.

The Labour MP wanted to install solar panels at his home — but the house faces the wrong way.

He said: “I looked into wind turbines, which are fashionable, and solar panels, but neither would really work for me.

“So I’m installing an air-heat pump and a woodchip burning stove.”

The pump will bring heat from the air into his home rather like a fridge in reverse. It should cover the heating requirements of a well-insulated property.

He added: “The price of oil and gas are going up and already through the roof at $146 a barrel and everyone thinks it will continue rising.

“It is more than double the price it was a year ago and 12 times what it was a decade ago. For people who want heat in their homes, this is catastrophic.

“I may be able to afford it but I am concerned as there are many in my constituency who will not be able to.”

Mr Meacher wants the Government to put more money into low carbon building projects (LCBP) and provide grants to people who want to install alternative measures in their homes.

“The Government set up the LCBP but it needs more funding as the demand is exhausted within hours. If you want to stop fuel poverty help people get the technology to provide almost free heat.

“This is a great move for the environment and will bring financial incentives for families.”

Last month the Government announced thousands of new wind turbines could be built across the country as part of Gordon Brown’s £100billion plan to boost Britain’s renewable energy.

The Prime Minister hailed the programme to boost renewable energy as a “green revolution in the making” and said plans represented “the most dramatic change in energy policy since the advent of nuclear power”. He wants the UK to achieve its target of 15 per cent renewable energy by 2020.