Plans to be revealed at launch of consultation on heat and energy efficiency

Over 7m homes are expected to benefit from a government plan to cut carbon emissions from British households.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change is expected to reveal proposals on Thursday in a consultation on its heat and energy efficiency strategy.

More than a quarter of homes will receive the energy makeover which will cut fuel bills and reduce pollution from carbon dioxide.

DECC is expected to compare the refit to the 10-year process of fitting UK homes with gas central heating in the 1960s and 1970s.

The department will also announce measures to encourage households to install renewable energy systems such as solar photovoltaics and biomass.

Emissions from people’s homes make up 27% of total CO2 emissions, according to Friends of the Earth.

But cost is a continuing concern. While Gordon Brown has announced nearly £1bn for energy-saving initiatives, insulation and small-scale clean energy alone have been estimated to be between £2bn-12.9bn.