Adopting energy-saving technology could help deliver warmer homes and lower bills

By David Lennan, Chairman, National Warm Homes Council

Progress in taking meaningful action to tackle Britain’s cold homes, improve home energy efficiency and address heat-leaking housing stock has over the last decade been slow. High energy bills and poorly insulated properties adversely affect the most vulnerable in society. But how can we deliver warmer homes and support low-income households with lowering bills and emissions? 

According to Friends of the Earth, one-third of all households in the UK, or 9.6 million people, are living in cold, damp and poorly insulated homes. Consequently, the poorest households could be paying up to £500 more a year on their energy bills. 

A key reason for this is that the fabric of our houses is of substandard quality. The UK has the oldest and least energy-efficient homes in Europe. Our homes lose heat up to three times faster than our European neighbours. 

YouGov polling points to one in four people rating their home as having low heat retention, while 6% say it does not retain any at all. The UK is unique in Europe for having empty, and often, uninsulated loft spaces that result in 25% of heat loss being transmitted through lofts.

It is no wonder that topping the list of concerns for many in last week’s local elections was living in cold, poor-quality homes and rising costs to heat them. Families across the UK need extra support finding the easiest and most affordable way to make their homes warmer, more energy efficient and cheaper to heat. 

That is why a redoubling of efforts to invest in our housing stock and fast-tracking support for home improvements is critical to address these challenges. A step in the right direction would be to incentivise and support all homeowners – landlords, owner-occupiers, housing associations – to upgrade their homes. 

The government could turn ambition into action by making progress on insulating every single loft in the country. Well-insulated homes leave more money in people’s pockets, keep them warm, healthy and comfortable, and less worried about paying their bills.

But even installing loft insulation would not be enough as the vast majority of people, 80% according to the Carbon Trust, use their lofts for storage, which can have a detrimental effect on the thermal properties of the insulation when compressed, reducing its effectiveness by at least half. 

So, what else can policymakers do? The government should be actively promoting a full range of innovative energy-saving equipment widely available today from new roofs with insulative material to thermal storage to loft insulation protection, which are proven to help consumers lower energy costs and improve energy efficiency for longer. 

The government could boost the number of people insulating their lofts if insulation protection came as part of every installation, which is a growing trend in the US and Canada. That way, people can be encouraged to use their lofts for storage without having to reinsulate them after a few years due to damage.

We have much to do to help people and families make the critical upgrades needed so that warmer and healthier homes that are cost-effective to heat become a reality for millions across the country. The government (or the next one) can do this today by helping people and low-income families access and adopt innovative, easy-to-use and affordable energy-saving technology that can ensure homes are fit and healthy for the future.

www.nwhc.org.uk

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