| By :
Martin Hofschroer
Green jobs are set to be generated in Wales after the government announced a new home improvement scheme. The arbed initiative, which translates into English as 'save', will upgrade the energy efficiency of homes with the installation of green technology such as retrofit exterior wall insulation, solar panels and heat pumps. An average of £2.5 million will be spent every month this year on installing the technology across regeneration areas in West, Mid and North Wales. The scheme is intended to provide a boost to the environment and also the economy with the creation of green jobs, a skilled workforce and overall regeneration of deprived areas. Qualified tradesmen who have completed plumbing courses and electrical courses may need to take green energy courses in order to gain the appropriate skills to install the new technology. Jane Davidson, environment minister, said that the innovative initiative is helping Wales lead the way in the United Kingdom on energy efficiency. "But it is truly sustainable because we will be reducing fuel costs and helping those most in need who are in fuel poverty and making local job creation and training a key part of the schemes," she added. The Assembly Government is introducing the initiative to generate jobs, attract investment into Wales and to stimulate growth in the energy efficiency and renewable energy businesses. Nigel Draper, from Community Housing Cymru, said he is looking forward to working with the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver the first phase of the project. "Around 70 per cent of social housing tenants are financially excluded so we welcome this £30 million boost, which will not only save our tenants hundreds of pounds in energy bills, it will also develop green jobs in renewable energy, reduce fuel poverty and reduce our carbon footprint," he added. Arbed is a key part of the Assembly government's Heads of the Valleys Low Carbon Zone in South Wales, where it is developing a major energy efficiency and renewable energy industry. The government expects that at least 6,000 homes will see the benefits of arbed by March 2011. Combining the arbed initiative with the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and Boiler Scrappage Scheme will result in a total of 25,000 Welsh homes having improved and cheaper to heat, according to the government. Manchester United footballer Gary Neville is in the process of building a multi-million pound eco-mansion complete with wind turbine, ground-source heat pump and solar panels. The luxury property will be the first zero-carbon home in Bolton if the proposals are approved by planning officials.
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