Newly appointed energy secretary Edward Davey visited BRE’s Innovation Park in Watford today in his first official appointment since replacing Chris Huhne on Friday.

Joined by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on his tour of the Innovation Park he said ‘My priorities are very simple: green jobs, green growth and getting the best deal for energy bill payers. My department is already implementing bold and ambitious reforms – like electricity market reform and the Green Deal – to unlock private investment, drive innovation and build a resilient, green competitive economy. It’s now my job to see those through.

Davey, a trained economist and an environmental campaigner since university went on to say “I have long believed in the need to marry our economic and environmental agendas. Greening the economy isn’t just good for the planet – it’s good for the wallets, purses and pockets of every British citizen too.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg echoed the need for the UK to compete in low global carbon markets saying, “There is nothing inconsistent about doing the right thing for the planet and for the economy.” He added “We have scientists and politicians from China and Brazil to places like this [BRE] to learn.”

The pair were given a tour of the demonstration homes on the BRE Innovation Park as well as meeting eight of BRE’s young graduate employees.

The energy secretary also announced today that 155 community energy projects across the country have won a share of £5.1 million of funding from the Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF). The winning bids include projects to demonstrate wall insulation to the public, schemes to check the energy efficiency of homes and events to promote energy efficiency in local communities.