Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 18 May 2020 Closed: 30 Nov 2021 Parliament page
Homes account for just under 30% of energy use and around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. It is one of the few sectors where emissions reductions have stalled. This inquiry will look at the Government's manifesto commitments and proposed strategies on energy efficiency and ask whether they … Read more
25 Recommendations
14 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
13 May
2021
Report published
21 Apr
2021
Correspondence
22 Mar
2021
Report published
22 Mar
2021
Correspondence
8 Feb
2021
Correspondence
14 Dec
2020
Correspondence
2 Dec
2020
Oral evidence
18 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
4 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
15 Oct
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
2 Dec 2020
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Panel 1
Ben Golding · Clean Power 2030 Emma Fraser · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Jon Fuller · HM Treasury Kemi Badenoch · HM Treasury Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
18 Nov 2020
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Brian Berry · Federation of Master Builders George Munson · Leeds City Council and the Core Cities Energy Efficiency Group Karen Brown · Northern Housing Consortium Laura McGadie · Energy Saving Trust Mark Lynn · Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd (Thermafleece) Russell Smith · Retrofitworks Simon Ayers · TrustMark
4 Nov 2020
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Claire Tracey · Nationwide Building Society Dr Joanne Wade OBE · The Association for Decentralised Energy Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE · Green Finance Institute Gavin Dick · National Residential Landlords Association Jonathan Ducker · Kingspan Mr Peter Smith · National Energy Action (NEA) Robert Tiffin · Ecotiffin
15 Oct 2020
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Jan Rosenow · The Regulatory Assistance Project Jenny Hill · Committee on Climate Change Jenny Holland · UK Green Building Council Katie Black · National Infrastructure Commission Michael Lewis · E.ON UK Pedro Guertler · E3G Sarah Kostense-Winterton · Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group Simon Bittlestone · National Audit Office
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes HC 346 22 Mar 2021 39 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
The scale of the challenge to retrofit existing homes to tackle the climate crisis is...
The scale of the challenge to retrofit existing homes to tackle the climate crisis is enormous. Energy efficiency is a precursor to the transition to low carbon heat, so action must be taken in the 2020s to set homes on … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the challenge and stated its commitment to improving homes to EPC Band C by 2035, outlining ongoing actions such as consulting on minimum standards for private and social rented sectors and committing to review owner-occupied regulations in 2021.
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7 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend the Government reviews the way ECO is funded, in common with the other...
We recommend the Government reviews the way ECO is funded, in common with the other policy costs that are added to consumer electricity bills rather than gas. Disproportionate use of this regressive funding mechanism is hampering the adoption of low … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to publishing a call for evidence to initiate a strategic dialogue with consumers and industry on affordability and fairness, including the balance of levies on electricity versus gas bills, to address current price signal distortions and encourage decarbonisation.
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend that BEIS and the Treasury undertake a joint review of the preparation, launch,...
We recommend that BEIS and the Treasury undertake a joint review of the preparation, launch, funding and delivery of the Green Homes Grant programme, and that the recommendations of that review be applied to all cross-Government working on programmes to … Read more
Government Response
The government states the National Audit Office is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the Voucher scheme with Treasury participation, due in early July, in addition to an independent evaluation by Ipsos MORI.
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16 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend that, following an evaluation of Phase Two, the scheme is expanded with a...
We recommend that, following an evaluation of Phase Two, the scheme is expanded with a larger budget, over a multi-year period, and a greater role for BEIS’s local energy hubs to supplement local authority capacity.
Government Response
The government has allocated an additional £300 million to the 5 Local Energy Hubs to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to 30,000 homes by December 2021, expanding funding and local authority involvement.
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20 Conclusion Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
Stop-start Government policies and intermittent funding streams have resulted in a dearth of installers of...
Stop-start Government policies and intermittent funding streams have resulted in a dearth of installers of energy efficiency measures. A lack of accredited tradespeople has hampered the initial delivery of the Green Homes Grant, and there is a significant risk that … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the need for long-term certainty for industry and households, stating that the upcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy will outline its approach. It also highlighted ongoing efforts to address the skills gap, including the Green Homes Grant Skills Competition and plans to upskill over 7,000 heat pump installers annually.
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21 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
Whilst we welcome the launch of the Green Jobs Taskforce and the Green Homes Grant...
Whilst we welcome the launch of the Green Jobs Taskforce and the Green Homes Grant Skills Training Competition, the Government must create a visible, long- term market that makes energy efficiency and heat pump installation a stable and desirable profession. … Read more
Government Response
The government stated its commitment to creating 2 million green jobs by 2030, highlighting the Green Jobs Taskforce and existing significant funding for training initiatives, including the Green Homes Grant Skills competition and various educational programmes.
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22 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend that as part of the forthcoming Heat and Buildings strategy a national retrofit...
We recommend that as part of the forthcoming Heat and Buildings strategy a national retrofit strategy is developed with colleges and other education providers to provide the training and re-training needed to prepare our homes for a low-carbon future. The … Read more
Government Response
The government is working with the Green Jobs Taskforce to produce an Action Plan for Net Zero skills and is actively collaborating with industry and education providers to increase the number of trained heat pump installers. They expect industry to be able to upskill over 7,000 installers per year by the end of 2021 and are also contributing to a broader skills analysis by CITB.
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23 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We support the introduction of minimum energy performance standards across all tenures.
We support the introduction of minimum energy performance standards across all tenures. Without these minimum standards, it is unlikely the Government’s overall ambitions on retrofitting energy efficiency will be achieved.
Government Response
The government welcomes the Committee's support for minimum energy performance standards across all tenures and lists specific actions taken or committed to, including consulting on strengthening standards for the Private Rented Sector (2025/2028), committing to consult on social housing standards, and committing to consult in 2021 on regulatory measures for owner-occupied homes.
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39 Recommendation Accepted
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend that within its Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government consider stipulating the use...
We recommend that within its Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government consider stipulating the use of sustainable materials in public sector energy efficiency contracts as a first incentive to drive the UK’s domestic supply chain of these materials. (Paragraph 159) … Read more
Government Response
The government is reforming public procurement policy through new legislation and a National Procurement Policy Statement to embed national priorities like tackling climate change. This framework, alongside actions from the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, will enable the public sector to drive demand for green products, including sustainable materials in contracts.
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Government Response AI assessment · 39 of 25 classified
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 15
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 6
Total 25 recs + 14 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
21 Apr 2021 Chair to Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the future of the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme, dated 19 April 2021
Parliament page
22 Mar 2021 Memorandum to the EAC from the Exchequer Secretary regarding the Green Homes Grant, dated 12 March 2021
Parliament page
8 Feb 2021 BEIS to Chair regarding Green Homes Grant Scheme, 22 January 2021
Parliament page
14 Dec 2020 Chair to BEIS, GHG survey, 11 Dec 2020
Parliament page