“The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report underlines OFTEC
and UKIFDA’s long held concerns that government has seriously
underestimated the cost of upgrading the energy efficiency of UK
homes, particularly those off the gas grid.
“In our responses to the EAC’s consultation last year, we
highlighted how two thirds of oil heated properties (765,000
homes) currently fall into the lowest energy efficiency bands of
E-G, making them far more difficult and expensive to improve.
“Instead of representing an ‘easy, early win’ for
decarbonisation, off-grid properties present one of the most
costly and complex challenges. This means the majority of
households will need considerable financial support to achieve
the levels of improvement required – not just the fuel poor.
“The EAC suggests government’s “botched” implementation of
policies has been “nothing short of disastrous”. Instead of the
ineffective, piecemeal approach employed to date, UK households
urgently need well thought through, long term solutions that are
fit for purpose.
“Consumer choice and fairness must lie at the heart of future
decarbonisation policy for government to get back on track.
Households, especially those off-grid, must have access to a
range of simple to implement, affordable options that work for a
variety of property types and budgets.
“Failure to embrace a mix of solutions going forward - which
should include renewable liquid fuels as a near drop in
replacement for oil heated homes - will continue to threaten
progress.”
