What does the Governments ‘Warm Home Plan’ mean for you?

Retrofitting homes is vital for the UK to meet its 2050 net zero target, according to a new parliamentary report by the Energy Security & Net Zero Committee. Four in five homes that will be occupied in 2050 have already been built. With that in mind, the report highlights retrofitting homes as one of the most impactful strategies to cut emissions, reduce energy bills, and enhance living standards across the country.

With previous plans to ban new oil and LPG boilers by 2026, now delayed to 2035; the Energy Security & Net Zero Committee are calling for commitment to this deadline. The report identifies a huge opportunity for growth in low-carbon heating, such as heat pumps, which currently serve just 5% of homes – far behind our European peers.

The upcoming Warm Homes Plan, set for release in 2025, is highlighted as a positive step, aiming to retrofit five million homes by 2030. In addition to the existing £7,500 grant available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the report also calls for policy changes to reduce electricity costs, and campaigns to improve awareness and accelerate adoption.

The report calls for modernisation of Energy Performance Certificate(EPC)s, to better reflect the carbon impact of home heating systems. Currently based on running costs, EPCs can unintentionally discourage low-carbon choices. It also identifies the need for a skills boost, with at least 100,000 more trained workers required.

Looking further ahead, the committee urges the government to provide timely clarity on the role of hydrogen, and recommends early planning for gas network decommissioning.