It’s got all their favourite elements – impressive headline numbers for job creation and a timescale so far in the future that everyone forgets the promised programme if it fails to deliver.

So it was deja-vu time yesterday when Climate Secretary Chris Huhne announced a “Green Deal” to create a whole new industry employing 250,000 people to retrofit 26 million homes to make them more energy efficient.

Huhne’s proposals had worrying echoes of Labour’s plans to insulate six million homes which generated headlines but little extra work in the real construction world.

Huhne himself dismissed previous plans as “half-cock”. But why should it be any different this time?

The devil will be in the detail when firm plans are put before Parliament before the end of the year.

The neat idea is to get firms to fund energy efficiency improvements then claim back the cash (and profits) as lower fuel bills free-up money from householders.

Huhne and his officials now have the huge task of turning a good concept into a system which works.

Finding a mechanism to channel cash from homeowners to installers as their energy bills fall will be a real challenge.

And that’s before even considering complications like what happens when homes are sold and new owners have to pay for something they may not have commissioned.

Everyone in the industry is hoping Huhne can find a magic formula which will create a work boom as budget cuts bite in other areas.

Improved energy efficiency is a win-win all round. Now let’s hope Huhne can turn the green dream into reality.