NEWS EXTRA
GOVERNMENT COOKS UP GREAT BRITISH INSULATION SCHEME
The Energy Security Secretary announced a raft of initiatives to secure the UK’s energy future, and help meet the net zero targets. But are they likely to help?
AMBITIOUS PLANS TO scale up affordable, clean, homegrown power and build thriving green industries in Britain have been unveiled by the government, aimed at boosting the country’s energy security and independence and reducing household bills for the long term and helping achieve net zero.
Among the initiatives are a re- branding of the ECO+, energy company obligation scheme, to The Great British Insulation Scheme. Set to launch in Summer 2023 and run until March 2026, the scheme will provide £1bn over three years to upgrade 300,000 homes with an energy performance certificate of D or below and in the lower Council Tax bands (A-D in England, and A-E in Scotland and Wales). GBIS will target the worst performing homes and will include a ‘general eligibility group’, covering homes in the lower council tax bands, with an EPC of D and below. The Scheme will work alongside existing schemes (such as ECO4 focused solely on low-income households, least able to pay and in fuel poverty) to install measures to as many households as possible. Low-income homes may also be offered secondary heating controls where they are also having an insulation measure installed. Incentives to switch from boilers to energy efficient heat pumps will also be on offer.
The announcement was made by Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps, who unveiled 60 policies putting the UK on the path to net zero by 2050.
The Builders Merchants Federation gave a cautious welcome to measures to increase the energy efficiency of UK homes confirmed as part of its net zero and energy security strategy, Powering Up Britain, but will still campaign for more to be done
8
through the National Retrofit Strategy.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “Of course, we welcome any scheme that aims to help householders with the cost of installing new home insulation. However, this is still far cry from the benefits that would be afforded by a long-term National Retrofit Strategy to upgrade all 29 million homes in the UK that require improvement to reduce both energy bills and CO2 emissions. Government backing for this long- term plan would have the added benefit of creating up to 500,000 skilled jobs and we will continue to campaign for the adoption of the National Retrofit Strategy.” Carl Arntzen, Worcester Bosch CEO said: “It is positive to see the Government announce The Great British Insulation Scheme, which brings new grants that could help approximately 80% of homes in low efficiency bands improve their property’s EPC rating. This is a welcome step towards preparing the UK’s housing stock for future greener heating solutions. “It is also good to see the Government taking an agnostic approach when it comes to natural gas alternatives. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme’s two-year extension plus the confirmed investment into both UK manufacturing of heat pumps and green hydrogen production are all very welcome. It alludes to key
decision makers now appreciating that to solve the tricky challenge of decarbonisation, there is no one silver bullet.”
Trevor Harvey, CEO of Stelrad Group Plc said: “We welcome the measures outlined by the UK Government today as part of its Energy Security Strategy. However, while initiatives like the Great British Insulation Scheme and the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator are important steps towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and increasing energy efficiency, there is still more to do.
“Studies show the UK’s 28.6 million homes are among the least energy efficient in Europe and lose heat up to three times faster than on the continent, making people poorer and colder. A comprehensive retrofit strategy specifically designed to address the energy efficiency of UK housing is required, encompassing everything from insultation and radiators, and we stand ready, willing and able to work with Government and feed into such a strategy.” Kooltech, the heat pump specialist recently acquired by Wolseley UK, also welcomed the new government energy strategy and accompanying investment in sustainable heating, including the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator. Commercial Sales Director Jonathan Brown commented: “This extra clarity around
the UK’s energy plan and fresh government investment is great news for billpayers and the environment, and it gives the private sector the confidence to keep investing in sustainable heating. Long-term commitments such as this will help the
development of the resilient supply chains needed for our net zero transition.”
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive at UKGBC said: “The Government has doubled down on new clean energy generation, a positive stimulus at this febrile moment for energy security. But it has missed an opportunity by failing to publish a comprehensive national plan to curb the staggering levels of energy waste from our homes and buildings. Without this, we’re trapped into unsustainable demand for heat and electricity, making it extraordinarily difficult to see how we’ll pay our bills or hit our climate goals.
“Initiatives such as the ECO+ scheme and extension to heat pump support, while welcome, will only reach a fraction of the 27 million homes that need retrofitting. Similarly, reforms to the planning system do not include the net zero test recommended by Chris Skidmore MP.
“As our climate emergency intensifies, the Government should be leading from the front by seizing the opportunities of a nationwide retrofit plan that would deliver £56 billion to the UK’s green economy, slash energy bills to save households £8bn every year and create 500,000 skilled jobs in a decade.
“We hope that the Government makes use of the opportunities to get on track offered by the Energy Efficiency Taskforce and amendments to the planning system through the Levelling Up Bill.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2023
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
