Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Fourth Report - Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 346
Published 22 March 2021
Government response
First Special Report - Energy efficiency of existing homes: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2019–21 · published 13 May 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 29
The scale of the challenge to retrofit existing homes to tackle the climate crisis is...
Conclusion
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 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.
7
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 43
We recommend the Government reviews the way ECO is funded, in common with the other...
Recommendation
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 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.
14
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 73
We recommend that BEIS and the Treasury undertake a joint review of the preparation, launch,...
Recommendation
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 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.
16
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 78
We recommend that, following an evaluation of Phase Two, the scheme is expanded with a...
Recommendation
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 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.
20
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 100
Stop-start Government policies and intermittent funding streams have resulted in a dearth of installers of...
Conclusion
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 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 over 7,000 heat pump installers annually.
21
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 101
Whilst we welcome the launch of the Green Jobs Taskforce and the Green Homes Grant...
Recommendation
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 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.
22
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 102
We recommend that as part of the forthcoming Heat and Buildings strategy a national retrofit...
Recommendation
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 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 7,000 installers per year by the end of 2021 and are also contributing to a broader skills analysis by CITB.
23
Recommendation
Accepted
Para 110
We support the introduction of minimum energy performance standards across all tenures.
Recommendation
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 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 2021 on regulatory measures for owner-occupied homes.
39
Recommendation
Accepted
We recommend that within its Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government consider stipulating the use...
Recommendation
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 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 sustainable materials in contracts.