Retrofitting homes for net zero

Energy Security and Net Zero Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 19 Nov 2024 Closed: 31 Dec 2025 Parliament page
Building on the evidence received in the previous Committee’s Heating our homes inquiry, the Committee will hold a one-off session on Retrofitting homes for net zero . The Committee will invite two stakeholder panels to consider the policy changes needed to deliver low carbon heating and energy efficient homes. Read more
20 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
18 Aug
2025
Report published
22 May
2025
Report published
26 Mar
2025
Correspondence
12 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
12 Feb
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
4 Dec
2024
Oral evidence
4 Dec
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
12 Feb 2025
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Amanda Hoyles Andy Manning · Citizens Advice Damian Mercer · Cavity Extraction Ltd Ian Rippin · Microgeneration Certification Scheme Service Company Shabir Hussain · Luton Council Simon Ayers · TrustMark Zak Ashraf
4 Dec 2024
View on parliament.uk
Oral evidence
Andy Prendergast · GMB Jessica Skilbeck · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Joanne Wheeler · UK Green Building Council Madeleine Gabriel · Nesta Maya Fitchett · National Energy Action Miatta Fahnbulleh MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Mike Foster · Energy and Utilities Alliance Olivia Haslam · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Robert Panou · Stonewater
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net zero HC 453 22 May 2025 31 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
11 Conclusion Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Government's indecision on hydrogen's role undermines low-carbon heating confidence and rollout
Uncertainty over the UK’s technological direction for decarbonising heat is undermining consumer confidence and supply chain development. In particular, the Government’s failure to decide on the role of hydrogen for home heating is obstructing the rollout of proven electric technologies … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for strategic clarity on decarbonising home heating and will consult later this year on the role of hydrogen, following the expected conclusions of an independent safety review by the Health and Safety Executive.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
13 Conclusion Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Public awareness of electric heating systems remains worryingly low, compounded by misinformation
Levels of public awareness of electric heating systems are worryingly low. Many consumers are simply unaware of technologies such as heat pumps, let alone their benefits and support available to them. This is compounded by misinformation and factionalism in parts … Read more
Government Response
The government states its focus on incentivizing cleaner, affordable heating and has announced measures via the Warm Homes Plan to support investment in heat pumps and energy efficiency, with further details on public awareness strategies to be set out later.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
15 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Produce engagement strategy to build confidence in electric heating for consumers and installers
The Government must produce an engagement strategy to set out the costs and benefits of electric heating and build confidence for consumers, installers and the supply chain. This should include a plan to tackle misinformation and introduce consumer and workforce … Read more
Government Response
The government states its focus on incentivizing cleaner, affordable heating and has announced measures via the Warm Homes Plan to support investment in heat pumps and energy efficiency, with further details on an engagement strategy to be set out later.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
16 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Continued delay on hydrogen's role in heating creates profound market uncertainty
Delaying a decision on the role of hydrogen for domestic heating until 2026 continues to create profound uncertainty. This means that consumers are delaying their switch to low carbon heating systems and Ofgem is unable to prepare to regulate our … Read more
Government Response
The government will assess the latest evidence and consult later this year on the role of hydrogen in home heating, awaiting conclusions from an independent HSE safety review expected later this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
17 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Set clear guidelines for ending new fossil fuel heating system installations
We are concerned that the Government has not set clear guidelines for the end of the installation of new fossil fuel heating systems on and off the gas grid. Without certainty, consumers, manufacturers and the wider supply chain lack the … Read more
Government Response
The government is focused on incentivising moves to cleaner heating through the Warm Homes Plan, having already announced measures, with more detail on specific guidelines for phasing out fossil fuel heating to be set out later this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
18 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Develop an urgent plan for repurposing the national gas network infrastructure
The Government urgently needs to develop a plan for repurposing the gas network. Whether hydrogen plays a role in our future heating system or not, much of the gas network will need repurposing, presenting an enormous and costly infrastructural challenge … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the urgent need to consider the future of the gas network but states a longer timeline is required to build a comprehensive evidence base. They will publish a Call for Evidence in 2026 to explore optimal operational transition and future uses of the gas system.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
19 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Decide on hydrogen's role for domestic heating by summer 2025 with Warm Homes Plan
We urge the Government to take a decision on the possible role of hydrogen for domestic heating no later than summer 2025, alongside the publication of its Warm Homes Plan. This should be informed by the existing evidence gathered through … Read more
Government Response
The government is assessing the latest evidence and will consult later this year on the role of hydrogen in home heating, pending an independent HSE safety review expected later this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
20 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Provide certainty on future electric home heating and clarify fossil fuel installation dates
The Government must provide consumers, installers and the supply chain with certainty that most home heating will be powered by electricity in future. It must also set out its view on whether new on-grid and off-grid fossil fuel heating systems … Read more
Government Response
The government states its focus on incentivising cleaner heating through the Warm Homes Plan, where more details on these issues are expected later this year, but does not explicitly provide certainty on future electricity use for heating or the status of fossil fuel systems from 2035.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
21 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Require Government to publish plans and cost analysis for gas network repurposing by 2025.
The Government must set out comprehensive plans and an analysis of the costs and benefits for repurposing the gas network and clarifying who would bear the costs. It should set out a preliminary analysis by the end of 2025, including … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need to consider the gas network's future but states a longer timeline is needed due to the complexity and need for evidence gathering. They will publish a Call for Evidence in 2026 to explore optimal operational transition and future uses of the network.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
29 Recommendation Deferred
1st Report - Retrofitting homes fo…
Consumer protection gaps and lacking standards permit rogue traders in non-grant retrofit work.
We are especially concerned about the lack of consumer protections and mandatory standards for retrofit work not covered by government grants. This is allowing rogue traders to operate unimpeded. We believe that those who fail certification to carry out government-funded … Read more
Government Response
The government announced its intention to conduct a sweeping overhaul of standards and consumer protections for retrofit, exploring options and promising an update in the Warm Homes Plan.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 20 classified
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 10
Rejected 1
Total 20 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
26 Mar 2025 Correspondence from Nigel Donohue, CEO, CIGA Group, to Chair and Minister for Energy Consumers relating to oral evidence session on 12 February 2025, dated 14 February 2025
Parliament page