COUNCIL chiefs want to address older ‘harder to treat’ homes as the UK bids to boost the energy efficiency of properties and slash greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.
The Shared Data Unit has investigated the energy efficiency of homes in the country, with the findings setting out challenges it faces.
It says due to the fact much of the housing stock in the British Isles was built before 1990, more than 12 million domestic properties currently fall below the Government’s long-term target to bring them up to a required standard.
That represents around two-thirds of all households that hold an energy performance certificate in the UK.
This rating grades homes between A and G depending on a number of factors ranging from insulation to C02 emissions.
Jenny Hill, team leader for buildings and international action, Committee on Climate Change, says: “We need to implement a huge efficiency drive and switch away from a dependence on fossil fuels.”
Figures for Warrington homes show 63,488 properties received an energy rating.
A total of 49 were Grade A at the top, 5,501 Grade B, 21,343 Grade C, 26,124 Grade D, 8,397 Grade E, 1,615 Grade F and 459 Grade G.
The unit stated potential annual savings on lighting, heating and water from homes in the town totals £212.33.
Cllr Judith Guthrie, the council’s cabinet member for environment and public protection, said the borough is in a unique position to actively support the ambitious net zero targets that are required to address the climate emergency.
Cllr Judith Guthrie
She highlighted the authority has delivered a lot to help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes over recent years, including work with local housing associations to deliver significant energy efficiency improvements to older houses, as well as installing solar panels to 2,168 housing association properties, saving over 982 tonnes of carbon – and being one of the first councils in the UK to do so.
“We are always on the lookout for potential funding schemes that would enable us to deliver more energy efficiency projects, particularly in areas where properties are older and need additional work to make them more efficient,” said Cllr Guthrie.
“The national Energy Company Obligation scheme, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty, is already available to people who are receiving certain benefits and we’re keen to build on this to roll out wider programmes that will benefit all residents in Warrington.”
The council says the emerging local plan will ensure that any new-build homes will be ‘exceptionally energy efficient’ and use less energy.
A spokesman added: “The Government’s aim is to ensure that all new homes are as close to net zero carbon as possible, by 2025.
“New homes are only a small part of the picture, however, and we will ensure that, wherever possible, we work to address the older, harder to treat homes that are more of a complex challenge.
“It is also our aspiration to move Together Energy, in which we have a 50 per cent stake, towards 100 per cent renewable energy – which our residents will then benefit from to power their homes.”
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