Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Fifth Report - Heat resilience and sustainable cooling
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 279
Published 31 January 2024
Recommendations
6
Accepted
Clarify Government intention to expand Building Regulations Part O to cover property refurbishments.
Recommendation
We support the extension of Part O of the Building Regulations not only to cover material changes of use to residential, but also for refurbishments of existing properties. We recommend that the Government clarify whether it is intended that Part …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing and recently extended funding schemes for retrofitting existing buildings, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a new local authority retrofit scheme, and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. DESNZ is also conducting research to support the development of policy levers to adapt the UK's building stock for thermal comfort.
18
Accepted
Require Government to set out progress on cooling equipment Minimum Energy Performance Standards and 2030 Global Cooling Pledge plans.
Recommendation
We recommend that in its response to this report the Government set out what progress it has made on establishing Minimum Energy Performance Standards in relation to cooling equipment since COP26; what the future trajectory for establishing such standards is; …
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Government Response Summary
The government has existing ecodesign regulations with minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for cooling products and is currently researching updates for commercial refrigeration, committing to do the same for other products in due course. It affirms plans to meet the Global Cooling Pledge's 2030 deadline for MEPS.
20
Accepted
Para 99
Require Government to publish details on Climate Resilience Board membership, meetings, and 2024 schedule.
Recommendation
Effective joint working is not just desirable but essential if the impacts of heat are to be tackled in a coordinated, holistic and cost-effective way. This does not seem to be happening to a sufficient degree at present in the …
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Government Response Summary
The government fully accepted the recommendation by providing details of the Climate Resilience Steering Board's membership, stating it has met twice since October 2023 (October 2023 and January 2024), and confirming it meets at least quarterly, with the next meeting scheduled for April 2024.
22
Accepted
Require Government to publish a clear timetable for the UK national cooling action plan.
Recommendation
We commend the UK Government on being among the first signatories of the Global Cooling Pledge, which represents a significant step forward in terms of heat resilience and sustainable cooling, and is a welcome demonstration of international leadership in this …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to develop and publish a 'cooling outlook document' as the UK's equivalent to a national cooling action plan. They anticipate its publication in the early part of the next parliament, ahead of the 2026 target.
Conclusions (3)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 17
We have received compelling evidence that heat is having serious and widespread impacts on health, wellbeing and economic productivity. This is already costing the UK thousands of lives and billions of pounds annually, a situation which is set to get worse without concerted action. The social and economic case for …
Government Response Summary
The government launched the new Weather-Health Alert system in June 2023, which is an impact-based alerting system developed in collaboration with UKHSA and the Met Office. UKHSA will continue to engage with academic partners to understand humidity's role in health and improve heat messaging.
8
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 65
We were pleased to note that the recent extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced by the Prime Minister in September 2023 has now been backed by additional funding for grants. The funded extension of the scheme represents a welcome move towards the long-term programme of retrofitting the existing housing …
Government Response Summary
The Government welcomes recognition of the extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and outlines additional funding and schemes to support retrofitting of existing buildings, including a local authority retrofit scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and a new energy efficiency grant.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 66
We consider that there are further opportunities to combine existing initiatives on insulation and energy efficiency into a more ambitious and comprehensive housing retrofit programme which addresses the risks of overheating in existing properties. Such an approach, if well designed and delivered, can minimise both cost and disruption while ensuring …
Government Response Summary
The government has set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations annually by 2028 and launched a £5m Heat Training Grant to support 10,000 trainees by 2025. It is also investing in Regional Skills Pilots, updating apprenticeship frameworks, and aims to publish a Green Jobs Plan in the first half of 2024 to support workforce demands for Net Zero.