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the net zero home

there. However, it will require support,
oversight and coordination from central KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT
government, including on decisions about
national energy infrastructure, pricing,
taxation, regulation and engagement. Urgent at scale action taken from reduce barriers for existing and new
The report proposes that this 1 now, with a full decarbonisation entrants to the market and make
coordination should be delivered by a strategy in delivery by 2025 low carbon heat more attractive or
new Central Delivery Authority, similar a) BEIS’ 2020 Heat Roadmap should visible to households, for example
to the previous Olympic Delivery be published in early 2020 and through heat as a service.
Authority or the body proposed include: b) BEIS should incentivise at scale
to deliver energy efficiency as an An action plan for the immediate early uptake of low carbon heating,
infrastructure priority in Scotland. The deployment of at scale low regrets with a new scheme in place by 2021
Central Delivery Body can coordinate low carbon retrofit around the UK, when the Renewable Heat Incentive
the development and delivery of low including an urgent national energy comes to an end. This could include
carbon heat in different regions and efficiency retrofit programme. consumer support such as grants
areas, including sharing learning A mandatory target for energy and VAT incentives, and industry-
between regions, coordinating pilots efficiency of new homes and wide measures such as a low carbon
and developing upskilling programmes commercial buildings. gas obligation.
for gas engineers. It can also provide A timeline for delivery before 2025
a central point for expertise, data of a strategy for complete heat There must be strategic governance
and information for low carbon heat decarbonisation, including funding 4 and financial structures to drive
planning and whole-house energy for pilots of low carbon heat in long term action
efficiency retrofit; monitor and evaluate homes around the UK. a) Government should establish a
the delivery and impact of regulation new Central Delivery Authority
and policies that sit across departments, Households must feel properly in England to coordinate regional
like Energy Performance Certificates and 2 informed, advised and engaged leadership on low carbon heat
building regulations; and coordinating a) BEIS should pursue the immediate delivery. Devolved nations should
and linking together awareness-raising build-up of trusted, publicly funded continue their work in delivering
and engagement programmes. advice services with regional centres low carbon heat in Wales and
across the UK that give impartial Scotland.
There must be an extensive advice to households on their b) BEIS should review the necessary
heating options, similar to those
statutory powers, technical
awareness-raising strategy currently operating in Scotland. capacities, data access and
during the early 2020s, b) Regional collaborative bodies like resources required for strategic
capitalising on momentum the Local Skills Advisory Panels planning for low carbon heat and
energy efficiency, to decide the role
in England or Regional Skills
built up around the recent Assessments in Scotland should be local authorities should play in
net zero legislation and involved in developing upskilling decarbonising heat.
forthcoming COP26 programmes for gas engineers to c) The upcoming Treasury review
ensure there are fully informed of the costs of decarbonisation
and qualified low carbon heating should consider major market
IGEM’s response installers that households can trust. interventions to drive a transition,
Responding to the report, Ian c) Government should lead a public such as a gradually strengthening
McCluskey, IGEM Head of Technical engagement programme on low carbon obligations on the energy
Services & Policy, said: “To meet our carbon heat, including: sector. It should also explore how
climate change ambitions of achieving A nationwide information campaign. government can ensure costs
net zero by 2050, it is essential that we Regional awareness strategies and for decarbonisation are shared
find and fund greener ways of heating local community-led schemes, equitably across the UK.
our homes and buildings. While various potentially including community-
options are possible, in engineering owned heat, roadshows or Consumer protections must deliver for
terms all have their challenges. Given showrooms. 5 all, especially low income households
the scale of the challenge, a significant Citizens’ juries type arrangements to a) BEIS’s review of the energy
effort is needed on all fronts. Success in shape heat strategies at a national or retail market should ensure that
transitioning to a low carbon future will regional level. consumer protection is sufficient
also require investment for training and Establishing processes to map, for the scale of heat transition
skills, ranging from technicians, design monitor and incorporate public required and will be properly
engineers, project managers, academia engagement initiatives with low enforced.
and industrial researchers.” carbon heat into policymaking on an b) Fuel poverty must be properly
ongoing basis. addressed as part of the transition
Carbon Connect is the independent to low carbon heat. If the Just
forum that facilitates discussion and Low-carbon heat must become Transition Commission for Scotland
debate between independent experts, 3 attractive and visible to households were replicated on a UK-wide basis,
industry and parliament to bring about a a) BEIS should run an innovation heat should be considered as a
low carbon transformation underpinned competition for low carbon heat to priority area within its remit.
by sustainable energy. To read the full
report, go to: www.policyconnect.org.uk/cc

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