Two thirds of UK homes 'fail on energy efficiency targets'

The BBC has reported that two thirds of UK homes fail to meet long-term energy efficiency targets. 

The findings suggest that more than 12 million homes fall below a grade 'C' Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). 

This means householders spend more on energy bills and contribute more to CO2 emissions than other homes with appropriately installed energy efficiency measures. 

Experts say retrofit measures are needed because of the number of homes built before 1990. 

Dr Tim Forman, a research academic at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Sustainable Development, said now only a national project of a scale not seen since World War Two, would be enough to help Great Britain meet its 2050 net zero carbon target, which was signed into law in June 2019...Depending on the age and nature of individual properties, the cost of retrofitting energy efficiency measures could range from £18,000 to £150,000".

Elmhurst members will be familiar with the newly introduced PAS 2035 standards, which all retrofit work must comply with. It is hoped that the introduction of the new standards will give consumers confidence in the industry, in order to stimulate demand for correctly installed energy efficiency measures that take into account environmental factors and occupiers' use. 

It is Elmhurst's view that more policy needs to be introduced to encourage the increased uptake of such improvements. If the government wishes to achieve its target of net zero carbon by 2050, 500,000 homes will need to be retrofitted per year until that date - the question is what will encourage homeowners and landlords to do so. 

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Find out more about the retrofit industry and PAS 2035 standards. 

Read the full BBC report here.

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Article published 2nd March 2020