The group, which includes UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), the Energy Saving Trust, and the Association for the Conservation of Energy, wrote a letter to the commercial secretary to the Treasury, Lord Deighton, warning him the UK’s homes are “the coldest and draughtiest in Europe”.
The coalition stated that the government should direct up to £4 billion a year in capital investment top fund a programme of energy efficiency.
The letter said: “Domestic energy efficiency is one o the most cost effective ways to achieve the government’s three strategic priorities for energy infrastructure’: controlling energy bills, tackling climate change, and unlocking investment to support economic growth.
“No other investment can achieve so much for an individual householders and UK Plc.”
The group of organisations also published a report outlining the potential economic benefits of an improved energy efficiency programme.
These included reducing energy bills by an average of £300 a year and lifting nine out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Paul King, chief executive at UKGBC, said: “There’s a gaping hole at the heart of the government’s plan for infrastructure, and that gaping hole is the energy efficiency of our aging housing stock.”
He added: “Making home energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority – and offering it significant support alongside transport, energy generation or communication projects – would not only cut households’ rocketing energy bills and help tackle climate change, but would create thousands of new jobs and strengthen the UK’s energy security.
“Government spends £45 billion a year on capital infrastructure investment – our bricks and mortar deserve to be included.”