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Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes

Status: Closed Opened: 18 May 2020 Closed: 30 Nov 2021 25 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

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 will be enough to meet … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes HC 346 22 Mar 2021 39 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

9 items
1 Conclusion Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 a decarbonisation trajectory to meet our net zero targets. The … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 carbon heating options such as heat pumps. We recommend that … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 deliver net zero objectives. Read more

Government response AI summary
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 Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 AI summary
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 Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 the Government will not meet its heat pump installation targets … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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21 Recommendation Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, working with … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 strategy must address the much-needed increase in certified heat pump … Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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23 Recommendation Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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 AI summary
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 …
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39 Recommendation Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Ex… Accepted

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) 62 Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes Read more

Government response AI summary
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 …
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Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
2 Dec 2020 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 View ↗
18 Nov 2020 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 View ↗
4 Nov 2020 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 View ↗
15 Oct 2020 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

28 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Ben Golding · Director Clean Power 2030 1
Brian Berry · Chief Executive Federation of Master Builders 1
Claire Tracey · Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Nationwide Building Society 1
Dr Joanne Wade OBE · Chief Strategic Advisor The Association for Decentralised Energy 1
Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE · Chief Executive Green Finance Institute 1
Emma Fraser · Housing Markets and Strategy Director Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Gavin Dick · Local Authority Policy Officer National Residential Landlords Association 1
George Munson · Senior Project Manager Leeds City Council and the Core Cities Energy Efficiency Group 1
Jan Rosenow · Director of European Programmes The Regulatory Assistance Project 1
Jenny Hill · Head of Buildings and International Action Committee on Climate Change 1
Jenny Holland · Public Affairs and Policy Specialist UK Green Building Council 1
Jon Fuller · Deputy Director: Energy, Environment and Agricult… HM Treasury 1
Jonathan Ducker · Head of Regulatory Affairs Kingspan 1
Karen Brown · Senior Policy Advisor Northern Housing Consortium 1
Katie Black · Director of Policy National Infrastructure Commission 1
Kemi Badenoch · Exchequer Secretary HM Treasury 1
Laura McGadie · Group Head of Energy Energy Saving Trust 1
Mark Lynn · Managing Director Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd (Thermafleece) 1
Michael Lewis · Chief Executive Officer E.ON UK 1
Mr Peter Smith · Director of Policy and Advocacy National Energy Action (NEA) 1
Pedro Guertler · Programme Leader E3G 1
Robert Tiffin · Director Ecotiffin 1
Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP · Minister for Housing Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Secretary of State Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Russell Smith · Managing Director Retrofitworks 1
Sarah Kostense-Winterton · Chair Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group 1
Simon Ayers · Chief Executive TrustMark 1
Simon Bittlestone · Director, Value for Money National Audit Office 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
21 Apr 2021 — Chair to Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the…
22 Mar 2021 — Memorandum to the EAC from the Exchequer Secretary regarding the Green Homes Gr…
8 Feb 2021 — BEIS to Chair regarding Green Homes Grant Scheme, 22 January 2021
14 Dec 2020 — Chair to BEIS, GHG survey, 11 Dec 2020