Retrofit Suddenly Became More Urgent

Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 has been the main driver behind energy efficiency retrofits of social housing. But, have recent events and spiralling energy costs made the need even more urgent?

Maybe there’s a case for reframing the debate. Long-term actions to tackle the climate emergency are still vitally important – but in the immediate term millions of people are wondering how they will afford to heat their homes.

Across western Europe and beyond, energy security is one of the most troubling areas for policy makers. In 2020, 73% of the UK’s primary energy needs were met by oil and gas (source OGUK). Over a third of the nation’s electricity generation is powered by gas. What does this mean for future heating bills and the country’s ability to keep the lights on?

The Government has signalled its intention to increase nuclear generating capacity to meet 25% of the nation’s energy needs. This entails additional new nuclear power stations in addition to those needed to replace ageing plants.

Reaching the required 30GW generation will take until 2050 at the earliest. The investment needed will be colossal and energy won’t necessarily be any cheaper as a result. Reducing energy consumption by the built environment remains a high and urgent priority.

Reducing Energy Use

Whatever solutions are adopted to take fossil fuels out of the energy mix, it’s important to remember that the future is one where the built environment must consume significantly less energy overall.

The storage and distribution network needed to meet peak energy loads without burning gas doesn’t exist and isn’t likely to be created. If it were to be created it would need a massive infrastructure investment paid for out of future energy bills. So, we simply have to use less energy.

We don’t know how long it will take for wholesale gas prices to return to more normal levels. We also don’t know what further shocks might be around the corner. But it’s clear that making millions of homes and other buildings more energy efficient has become more urgent. For social housing residents already struggling with energy bills, it’s a crisis.

Accelerating Retrofits

There’s a strong case for bringing forward retrofit programmes to make the nation’s housing stock more energy efficient. It’s estimated that 70% of homes in the UK don’t even meet EPC Band C.

The technology and expertise already exist – such as Osborne’s simple four-step process for whole-home retrofits. What’s needed is scale.

To address this issue, partnerships, frameworks and commercial arrangements need to be put in place to offer retrofit specialists the financial security they need to start building capacity and supply chains. And this process needs to start as soon as possible.

For ideas about how to approach zero carbon retrofit at scale visit our resource centre or contact Nick Davidge ([email protected]).