Page 8 - Gi flipbook June/July 2018

NEWS | GOVERNMENT

UK government criticised

for ‘shocking’ inaction on

insulating draughty homes

THE GOVERNMENT’S
failure to take action on
insulating draughty homes
has been criticised by the
statutory body for energy
consumers.
As millions of households
brace for another round of
energy bill rises after British
Gas and EDF Energy hiked
their prices, Citizens Advice
said silence by ministers
on energy efficiency plans
would mean consumers
lost out and insulation
installers would go bust. The government axed its
Zoe Guijarro, Policy flagship energy efficiency
Manager at the consumer scheme in 2015
group, told The Guardian: “I
think it’s hugely damaging Citizens Advice follow implementing a temporary renewable electricity and
because we’ll have a lot the government coming market-wide price cap,” the local heat networks.
of catch-up to do. In the under fire for downgrading company said. But experts said the
meantime we will have lost targets for insulating older A spokesperson for the switch to greener heat
a lot of installers, who will homes with solid walls. The Department for Business, would not be as simple as
have gone out of business – University of Exeter said Energy and Industrial the transition to low-CO2
a lot of expertise. It’s not a the move meant it would Strategy (BEIS) said: “We power, which accounted
shame – it’s shocking in this take more than 400 years are investing £6 billion into for half of UK electricity
day and age, really.” to upgrade the UK’s last making homes more energy supplied last year.
The government axed its uninsulated solid wall homes. efficient, including schemes Mike Hemsley, Senior
flagship energy efficiency E.ON told The Guardian to provide insulation, as Power Analyst with the
scheme in 2015 and has that the change could well as a further £320 Committee on Climate
yet to replace it or signal also restrict the help that million to enable consumers Change, said: “There’s
what might come next. vulnerable households and non-domestic users to a lot of barriers to
Guijarro said the black received, and make the solid participate in a trailblazing installing efficiency and
hole on policy could lead wall target more challenging heat networks scheme.” low-carbon heat.”
people to conclude energy to hit. The ‘Big Six’ energy Industry and government He added that it was also
efficiency is unimportant, supplier said a serious are mulling how to reduce not clear yet whether there
even though experts view energy efficiency plan would the climate change impact was a low-CO2 option that
it as vital for cutting bills help consumers more than from heating, with energy was cheaper than today’s
and carbon emissions. a price cap, which it has efficiency considered a “no heating systems.
“You have this whole vigorously opposed. regrets” option. The government’s
radio silence, this missed “Overall, as a country we The UK’s homes experts seem to share that
opportunity where you need to bring the energy and businesses are view. A report published
could absolutely have that efficiency of homes up to overwhelmingly heated by BEIS concluded there
narrative around health and the level that is right for by fossil fuels, mostly gas. was a large degree of
wellbeing, and benefits of the 21st century, and which Energy UK, the Big Six uncertainty over the best
having a warmer, healthier could save many hundreds lobby group, has urged the way to decarbonise heat,
home. And the longer it of pounds off the annual government to fund trials given limited information
goes on the more people energy bill. This is a far more of low-CO2 alternatives, on the feasibility of the
think it’s not important,” sustainable policy, which such as greener gases technologies, their cost and
Guijaro said. politicians should consider including hydrogen, whether consumers would
The comments by embracing as opposed to heat pumps running off accept them. ■

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News.indd 3 17/05/2018 13:49