I agree that this is an important problem that needs addressing on many levels and I know that it will be of concern to many people in Ipswich.
It is vital that we meet our climate change targets and transition to a low-carbon future. As the WWF notes, our homes account for 20% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. I therefore agree that more needs to be done to ensure they are as energy efficient as possible.
The Government states that improving energy efficiency and decarbonising buildings will be key to the UK meeting its climate change commitments. This is good rhetoric but in reality they have cut support for energy efficiency measures, with further cuts announced, and are currently on course to miss by 80 years the target of ensuring that as many fuel-poor households as reasonably practicable achieve a minimum efficiency rating of band C by 2030. I therefore appreciate the WWF’s concerns that current policies are not enough to meet future climate targets and that progress in reducing the emissions of UK homes has slowed in recent years.
At the recent General Election, I stood on a manifesto that committed to insulating four million homes as an infrastructure priority. This would not only cut emissions, but also improve health, save on bills, and reduce fuel poverty and winter deaths. The manifesto also promised to offer homeowners interest-free loans to improve the energy efficiency of their property. It further pledged to improve on existing landlord energy efficiency regulations and re-establish the Landlord Energy Saving Allowance to encourage the uptake of efficiency measures. I can therefore assure you that I will continue to press for a UK emissions reduction plan that includes strong measures on home energy efficiency.
As requested, I have written to both the Secretaries of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Communities and Local Government to pass on the three recommendations you make.
I can assure you that I will continue to prioritise action on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.