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
6 results
Clear
11 Conclusion Rejected
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
It is commendable that the Government has been keen to avoid fraud in administration of...
It is commendable that the Government has been keen to avoid fraud in administration of the scheme by only allowing Trustmark and PAS registered companies to participate. But the anti-fraud precautions have been so complex that vouchers are simply not … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the conclusion that anti-fraud protections were complex, stating they have a duty to prevent fraud and that delays often had legitimate reasons, while acknowledging the scheme's closure and efforts to resolve processing issues.
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12 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend that the Green Homes Grant scheme be urgently overhauled and extended to provide...
We recommend that the Green Homes Grant scheme be urgently overhauled and extended to provide a genuine long-term stimulus to the domestic energy efficiency sector. The scheme should not be scrapped or quietly wound down. The Government must address the … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, explaining that the voucher portion of the Green Homes Grant scheme was closed due to significant challenges, with funding redirected to reform and expand the more successful Local Authority Delivery element.
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19 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
The proposed extension to the Warm Home Discount provides no apparent incentive to poor or...
The proposed extension to the Warm Home Discount provides no apparent incentive to poor or vulnerable customers to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their homes. Energy efficiency is the most sustainable long-term solution to fuel poverty. The money … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that energy efficiency is a long-term solution but defends the Warm Home Discount as a key policy for immediate support, stating they will continue the scheme with increased spending and will consult on improving its targeting. They do not commit to reallocating funds to Home Upgrade Grants or the Energy Company Obligation as recommended.
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27 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
Alongside an extension of the Green Homes Grant, other financial incentives, such as low interest...
Alongside an extension of the Green Homes Grant, other financial incentives, such as low interest loans, will need to be made available to owner occupiers and landlords to achieve the thorough retrofit of domestic housing stock the Government envisages. The … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the need for various financial products and is exploring options for the UK Infrastructure Bank, whose mandate is under development. However, trials of Stamp Duty rebates for energy efficient homes are explicitly not under active consideration due to concerns about tax revenue.
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29 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We recommend that the Chancellor of the Exchequer look again at proposals to reduce to...
We recommend that the Chancellor of the Exchequer look again at proposals to reduce to five per cent the rate of VAT on the labour element of refurbishment and renovations. The Government should also bring forward proposals to reinstate the … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to reduce VAT on refurbishment labour and expand the scope of reduced VAT on Energy Saving Materials, citing significant additional pressure on public finances and the need to balance tax revenue with public spending or other taxation.
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30 Recommendation Rejected
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency …
We support and reiterate the Green Finance Taskforce recommendation that the Government should pilot a...
We support and reiterate the Green Finance Taskforce recommendation that the Government should pilot a stamp duty rebate for homeowners that improve the efficiency of their homes within the first year of purchase. We recommend that the Government work with … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects piloting stamp duty rebates for homeowners, reiterating previous reasons. While agreeing on the need for various green finance products, they refer to existing support through the Green Home Finance Innovation Fund, ongoing engagement with lenders to consider additional support, and exploring options for the UK Infrastructure Bank. They also commit to consulting on regulatory measures for owner-occupied homes this year.
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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