How do we retrofit UK homes for net zero?

Five million warm homes plan

The new Government committed in its manifesto to upgrading five million homes over five years with the £6.6bn Warm Homes Plan. This is expected to include grants and low-interest loans, to support families to invest in insulation, low-carbon heating and home improvements.  Alongside this, the Government has committed to boosting minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and social housing.  

More consumers struggle to afford energy bills

UK housing stock accounts for around 17% of national emissions and is among the least energy efficient in Europe. While good progress has been made to decarbonise electricity, natural gas still accounts for around 85% of fuel used for domestic heating and cooking. 

Many UK consumers are also struggling to afford their heating bills: the percentage of households in England spending more than 10% of their income after housing costs on domestic energy rose to 36.4% in 2023, with bills set to rise again this winter. 

The Committee is seeking the three panels’ views on:

• how will the public afford the switch to low carbon heating? 
• does the Energy Performance Certificate help consumers to make informed decisions? 
• how can we equip the workforce with the skills required to upgrade UK homes
• how should the home heating transition be coordinated at a national and local level
• what factors are contributing to the under-delivery of government retrofit schemes 

Winter 2024 update: Heating our Homes

The ESNZ Committee before the General Election had taken a significant volume of evidence on the policy changes needed to deliver low carbon heating and energy efficient homes, in its Heating our Homes inquiry.

On Wednesday 4 December at 3.00pm, Room 16, Palace of Westminster

From 3.00pm:

• Maya Fitchett, Policy Analyst at National Energy Action
• Joanne Wheeler, Co-Head of Policy & Places at UK Green Building Council
• Robert Panou, Director of Asset Strategy and Investment at Stonewater 

From 4.00pm:

• Mike Foster, Chief Executive at Energy and Utilities Alliance 
•  Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Future at Nesta 
• Andy Prendergast, National Secretary at GMB 

From 5.00pm:

• Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Minister for Energy Consumers at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 
• Olivia Haslam, Deputy Director, Net Zero Buildings Strategy, Net Zero Buildings - Portfolio & Affordability Directorate at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 
• Ben Rimmington, Director-General, Net Zero Buildings & Industry at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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