One of the targets in the government’s Energy White Paper is that all social rented homes should have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2035 where possible. Many housing providers are already making considerable strides. For example, in April this year, five of the UK’s largest housing associations signed a partnership to improve the energy efficiency of their 300,000 homes and develop low-carbon heating solutions for the sector.
However, social landlords need support. Research by Inside Housing last year found that social landlords estimate it will cost an average of £20,000 per home to retrofit and upgrade to net zero-carbon standards, with costs varying depending on the type of property.
There is already some promising government funding in place. Through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, social housing providers will be able to bid for funding to improve the energy performance of their social homes from autumn this year.
We now need to collectively go further and faster to seize the opportunities that heat pumps present. The UK government will publish its long-awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy this year and there is no time to lose on this vital policy area. We need the strategy to provide confidence and clarity around making heat pumps available to everyone and to stimulate the market investment that will make this happen.
Beyond this, we also need greater investment in, and commitment to, the green jobs revolution. A recent study from thinktank Onward estimated that while the need to retrofit homes and ensure low-carbon domestic heating will create around 1.1 million new jobs by 2030, only 5,700 workers a year are currently training in these areas. And recently, the independent Green Jobs Taskforce reported that every UK job has the potential to become green.
Around 23% of fuel-poor households in England live in social housing, and for many other householders, the expense of a heat pump is prohibitive. That is why Energy Saving Trust recently joined more than 20 organisations in calling for a Fair Heat Deal that will help to give people on low incomes access to heat pumps and ensure these are affordable to install and run.
We firmly believe that we need to make the move away from fossil fuel boilers attractive, simple and fair for all.
We all stand to benefit from a future where we all enjoy warm, well-insulated homes heated by low-carbon heating system technology. Heat pumps can and must help to lead the way in accelerating our transition to net zero.
Stew Horne, head of policy, Energy Saving Trust
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