LONDON

The British government on Wednesday announced it will allocate £1.8 billion ($2.2 billion) to increase energy efficiency and cut emissions of homes and public buildings across England.

Over 115,000 homes are expected to get upgrades through the funding, according to a government statement.

A majority of the funds – £1.4 billion – will go to local authorities, providers of social housing, and charities.

Another £409 million will be given to reduce carbon emissions of hospitals, schools, museums, universities, and other public sector buildings.

The plan will help households save between £220 and £400 annually on energy bills, as well as support about 20,000 jobs in the construction and home retrofit sectors, the statement said.