It is a shame it took a full-blown energy crisis for it to happen, but the government seems to be finally starting to get serious about tackling chronically energy-inefficient buildings in the housing sector.
In his autumn statement, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced what he referred to as a “national ambition” on energy efficiency: for all buildings to reduce their energy consumption by 15% by 2030. The government had already committed £6.6bn to energy efficiency measures and a further £6bn would be made available from 2025 through to 2028, he said, adding that Grant Shapps, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, would announce “further details on our energy independence plans and launch a new Energy Efficiency Task Force (EETF) shortly”.
It all sounds laudable, but what do campaigners and built environment professionals make of the plans?
Hunt’s announcement curried little favour with environmental NGOs. Greenpeace’s UK political campaigner, Ami McCarthy, for one was unimpressed. “The chancellor paid lip service to home insulation, but where’s the emergency plan we need to fix our draughty, energy-wasting houses?” she asks. “A promise of more money in three years’ time helps no one. The government should launch a nationwide warm homes programme now that can save households £10bn a year on energy bills and lift people out of fuel poverty. The sooner we get going, the sooner we’ll reap the rewards of more affordable bills, more energy security and a more stable climate.”
Others, however, are more generous, arguing that the additional funding in what is an incredibly tight fiscal environment represents progress, albeit from a low base. “”This could signal the most important boost to energy saving and reduced energy bills in many years,” says Simon McWhirter, director of communications, policy and places at the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).
“The shift to make energy saving an equal priority with energy supply, setting a clear level of ambition and path forwards for industry, and new government funding could be the turning point needed. Getting the details and wider strategy right will be critical, but this is progress in the right direction.”
According to McWhirter, the composition of the EETF will be vital to ensuring progress is rapid and substantial. The take-up of previous energy efficiency schemes has been patchy at best. “The new task force to advise government is welcome news,” he says. “Bringing in experience from across industry, academia and civil society will be essential to make this a success, and [ensuring we] learn from the mistakes of the past.”
He adds: “The plan now needs to reflect the required urgency of the fuel poverty, cost of living and climate emergencies. Public funds must be prioritised for households struggling with bills, and boosting local authorities’ capacity to play centre stage in helping drive energy savings across the country.”
The government also needs to understand that while the EETF and additional funding are necessary, more needs to happen, he argues. “To succeed in a ‘shared mission with families and business’ [as the chancellor put it] targeting a whole-nation approach, more funding will be needed – as well as complementary long-term policies including incentives for owner occupiers and stronger minimum standards for the private rented and commercial sectors.”
If the government gets it right, the potential benefits in terms of job creation could be enormous, McWhirter adds.
The problem is that the requisite skills do not currently exist, according to Félicie Krikler, director at Assael Architecture. “A decade of low levels of insulation installation rates means that the energy efficient retrofit of homes needs a boost and today’s promise of funding is a sizeable step in the right direction,” she says.
“However, cash absolutely needs to be injected into up-skilling and increasing our workforce to make this a success. In 2012, ONS data shows there were just 12,000 vacancies in the construction sector, while today that number hovers near 50,000. A retrofit revolution would cut bills and carbon emissions for households across the country, but this can only be achieved if the government solves the skills crisis.”
She adds: “We need funding for developers, architects and builders who are investing in the next generation of workers in the ongoing drive to decarbonise the built environment. The industry also needs to redouble efforts to attract new entrants to the construction sector and offer a greater variety of pathways.”
In short, Hunt’s announcements in the autumn statement represent a welcome first step, but the devil is in the detail, specifically detail on how such broad targets translate into delivery – or whether its latest proposals are just more promises of jam tomorrow.
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