Who knows?

I suspect that few people in the UK are aware that an energy act came into law recently which aims to boost energy efficiency in residential homes.

More than half of homes have insufficient insulation, and around 50 percent more energy is used to heat and power homes than is used to power industry, according to the Department for Energy & Climate Change.

"It is vital, therefore, that action is taken to address home energy efficiency," the department said.

"The coalition is doing all it can to bear down on energy prices, but insulation will provide the long-term help to manage bills," energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne said.

DECC also said that the energy act would set in stone the legal framework for the 'Green Deal', which will be launched in autumn next year. "The Green Deal will . help people insulate against rising energy prices, creating homes which are warmer and cheaper to run," DECC said.

Climate change minister Greg Barker said that the Green Deal is "expected to attract capital investment of up to 15 billion pounds in the residential sector alone by the end of this decade and at its peak support around 250,000 jobs." The key elements to the energy act will remove the upfront cost of energy efficiency measures (like loft, cavity and external wall insulation, draught proofing and energy efficiency glazing and boilers) making expensive home improvement affordable. DECC said that the energy saving work will be repaid over time through a charge on the home's energy bill.