JOINT CALL FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY DRIVE TO TACKLE COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s buildings will permanently bring down energy bills for households and boost energy independence, say four leading associations.

Energy UK, the Local Government Association, the Federation of Master Builders and the National Housing Federation are calling on the Government to continue to prioritise energy efficiency as a core solution to the cost of living crisis. Insulating British housing is a longterm challenge, but it will help keep households bills down permanently, all while supporting the transition to Net Zero through reducing emissions, as well as the UK’s levelling-up agenda through the creation of new jobs in constituencies across the country.

The coalition is holding a drop-in event in Parliament today to brief MPs on where their constituents can go for more support on bills, including what their options are for improving the energy efficiency of their homes, and highlighting the important role that the energy industry, alongside the social housing and local government sectors, are playing in rolling out support for British people this winter.

The four associations are calling on the Government to match their ambition by:

• Working in partnership with industry, local government and wider stakeholders by developing a deliverable long-term plan for energy efficiency, including bringing forward the £6bn that was committed for energy efficiency in the Autumn Statement to this Parliament;

• Introduce new regulations and fiscal incentives to unlock additional demand;

• Speed up the review of its methodology that sits behind the EPC framework;

• Create the conditions to enable local areas to develop the long-term skilled and qualified workforce that is needed to deliver retrofit and energy saving measures; and

• Continue working in partnership with industry-led efforts, the social housing sector and local governments to support a long-term cross-Departmental approach to policy making in this space.