Millions of Britons urged to turn off the heat at night to help the government hit its net zero target - in a move critics brand a 'daft idea'
Millions of families across Britain will be urged not to heat their homes in the evenings to help the Government hit its net zero goal, it has been reported, in a move branded a 'draft idea' by critics.
A report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said people should 'pre heat' their homes in the afternoon when electricity usage across the country is lower.
It reportedly added that in the next ten years all of newly built homes and up to half of those built after 1952 should be eligible for pre-heating.
The quango also suggests those people using electrically powered heating systems, such as heat pumps, should switch off their radiators in the evening.
The document on 'behaviour change', the organisations sixth 'carbon budget' paper, said this would help the country's over all 'emissions savings just by changing the way we use our homes' and help people save money.
Some critics, however, have argued the real reason is because renewable energy forms would not be able to cope with demand at peak times.
Others said it is another example of the public having to compromise to help Rishi Sunak's Government hit its green targets.
Andrew Montford, the director of Net Zero Watch, told the Telegraph: 'The grid is already creaking and daft ideas like this show just how much worse it will become.
'It's clear that renewables are a disaster in the making. We now need political leaders with the courage to admit it.'
Meanwhile Craig Mackinlay, head of the Net Zero Scrutiny group of Conservative MPs told the paper: 'This latest advice to freeze ourselves on cold evenings merely shows the truth that the dream of plentiful and cheap renewable energy is a sham.
'I came into politics to improve all aspects of my constituents' lives, not make them colder and poorer.'
The CCC, however, has insisted the advice will benefit home owners adding that 'homes will still be warm but bills can be lowered'.
The CCC is an independent body that was set in 2008 to advise the Government on how it can reach its environmental targets.
The most recent advice comes as the Governments plans to ban oil boilers was thrown into doubt following a backlash from Tory MPs - with Government insiders suggesting it had just been a 'proposal'.
Whitehall sources said the initial idea was spearheaded by Boris Johnson's Government who put it out for consultation and that it is uncertain whether Rishi Sunak will charge ahead as planned.
The possible U-turn came after the former environment secretary George Eustice criticised the plan that would ban the boilers in off-grids homes and and introduce air-source heat-pumps by 2026.
Others have warned the scheme, that will affected 1.7million rural properties, will leave thousands of voters 'colder and poorer'.
The CCC had been part of the group that lobbied the Government to initate the ban on gas boilers in new homes by 2025 and stop selling them completely by 2035.
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