Last month we talked about the governments plans to ban the sale of poorly insulated homes and now fresh talks are in progress about introducing higher council taxes for ungreen homes. We got some great emails from our article last month and this latest announcement will undoubtedly cause further debates.

According to the Telegraph the government will not only increase council tax on such homes but also increase stamp duty. The scheme could come in to force later this year and would raise the average home improvement costs for home owners. Despite the proposal it has received strong criticism from both housing experts and politicians.

It is still unclear at this stage whether the scheme will be introduced however the Energy Saving Trust is recommending that home owners start making energy efficient home improvements now. This is because under laws already passed home owners must disclose information about their homes efficiency in the home information pack. A poorly rated home will be much more difficult to sell in today’s environment.

There are many ways in which home owners can improve their homes efficiency. Research carried out by the Trust shows that insulation is by far one of the most effective methods to improve your homes energy performance. On average loft insulation can save home owners £155 a year. The introduction of new technologies means that there are also plenty of ways for creating a future proof home.

We will bring more on this story as its announced.