The carbon plan suggests that household energy bills could be 7% lower in 2020 than now if government policies on home insulation and energy efficiency are fully implemented.

BBC: Debate on the government's green agenda

Finally, the same energy policies which drove increased reliance on renewable generation and energy efficiency requirements have also contributed to carbon emissions reductions.

FORBES: Surprise Side Effect Of Shale Gas Boom: A Plunge In U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Spread over nine equally-weighted categories, the scorecard rates colleges on factors like sustainable policies by administration, commitment to energy efficiency and conservation, food and recycling policies, campus-wide green building initiatives, student involvement, alternative transportation.

FORBES: Sustainability Report Card: How Green Is Your College?

The EU Climate Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, said climate policies would cut local pollution, reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports, improve resource efficiency, save money on energy and even make people fitter if they left their cars at home and cycled to work.

BBC: Climate change: EU rebrands green energy campaign