Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
2
Recommendation
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
It is critical that the Government streamlines and simplifies its support schemes, especially their eligibility requirements. Many schemes are too complicated and have failed to support fuel poor households, while also failing to incentivise able-to-pay households to invest their own money. (Conclusion, Paragraph 39)
Government response. The government accepts the need to streamline and simplify support schemes, stating they have already taken steps to simplify eligibility criteria and are learning from previous schemes to reduce administrative burdens. These efforts will inform future programme design within the …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
8
Conclusion
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
We are deeply concerned that Energy Performance Certificates, as currently calibrated, provide some consumers with poorly conceived advice and have a strong bias against low carbon, but initially more expensive, heating systems. As a cost-based metric, Energy Performance Certificates are not, as they stand, an effective tool for decarbonising UK …
Government response. The government acknowledges the concerns regarding Energy Performance Certificates and is reforming them to better align with net zero objectives, with updated EPC metrics expected to be introduced in 2026 under the Home Energy Model after a consultation.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
9
Recommendation
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
Energy Performance Certificate assessments vary greatly in quality and consistency. It is therefore troubling that they are expected to perform such a range of functions that they were never initially designed for, such as determining eligibility for government support schemes. If the Government is to continue using Energy Performance Certificates …
Government response. The government accepts the need for EPC reform and is already engaged in this process. A consultation has outlined proposals for updated EPC metrics to better reflect a building’s energy performance, emissions, and cost, with changes expected to be introduced …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
10
Recommendation
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
This report highlights the high and stagnating levels of energy poverty in the UK and the current disincentive that Energy Performance Certificates have on low carbon heating options due to price concerns. We therefore recommend that the Government reforms the Energy Performance Certificate metric with a renewed focus on both …
Government response. The government accepts the recommendation to reform EPC metrics and is already engaged in this process, with proposals for updated metrics that will reflect a building’s energy performance, emissions, and cost. Changes are expected to be introduced in 2026 as …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
22
Recommendation
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
The Government should review and assess measures designed to shape and influence the clean heat market, including but not limited to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, to determine if they remain the most effective ways to increase heat pump uptake. (Recommendation, Paragraph 121) Workforce and skills
Government response. The government states it closely monitors the clean heat market and the impact of its measures through regular monitoring, third-party evaluations, and consultations, detailing existing schemes and increased funding in the Warm Homes Plan.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
23
Conclusion
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
The UK has a skilled home heating workforce but its transition to work on low carbon retrofit is not happening at the pace required to upgrade homes at scale. This is compounded by a twin underlying crisis: few new entrants to the sector and an ageing workforce. (Conclusion, Paragraph 135)
Government response. The government recognises the need for a skilled workforce, highlighting £13.2bn committed to the Warm Homes Plan, plans to train up to 18,000 workers, extended training grants, new skills programmes, and the development of several retrofit apprenticeships.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
24
Conclusion
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
Training providers are reluctant to invest in courses on low carbon retrofit due to low demand for training. This is underpinned by the uncertain future technical direction of the sector, inadequate training grants, weak promotion of careers in retrofit and low consumer demand for low carbon energy home improvements. (Conclusion, …
Government response. The government acknowledges the need for a skilled supply chain and has committed £13.2 billion to the Warm Homes Plan. They announced plans to train up to 18,000 workers, extended the Heat Training Grant, launched the Warm Homes Skills Programme, …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
28
Conclusion
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net…
Accepted
The consumer protections and workforce accreditation landscapes are excessively complicated, which makes it challenging for consumers to know who to trust. Many consumers are simply unaware of which schemes they can rely upon and what avenues for redress they have if things go wrong. Recent home insulation scandals, including measures …
Government response. The government acknowledges the complexity and trust issues in consumer protection for retrofit. They announced an intention to conduct a sweeping overhaul of the system of standards, oversight, and consumer protections, exploring various models to ensure quality and clear redress, …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero