The chair of Parliament’s business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) committee has slammed the government for being as “too slow” in its efforts to improve energy efficiency of the country’s building stock.
Rachel Reeves made her criticism as her committee launched a probe into whether the government’s efforts to improve the energy efficiency of buildings matches its ambition to curb carbon emissions.
The inquiry will examine if the government’s current delivery of the energy efficiency improvements is consistent with meeting the targets set out in the clean growth strategy, and the fourth and fifth carbon budgets, which cover the decade ending in 2032.
It will also focus on action to upgrade the energy efficiency of fuel-poor homes and the government’s work to drive demand for energy efficiency measures within those households able to pay for their own improvements.
As part of this, the MPs will look into whether the government’s targets to improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of existing housing stock are ambitious enough.
The National Infrastructure Commission has recommended that the government should be installing 21,000 energy efficiency measures a week by 2020, more than twice the rate of 9,000 currently being achieved.
“Improving the energy efficiency of buildings plays a crucial role in tackling fuel poverty and helping bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable customers,” said Reeves.
“Energy efficiency is vital to cutting the costs of energy for homes and businesses and is a cost-effective method of reducing our carbon emissions. In spite of this, and the inclusion of energy efficiency targets in the clean growth strategy, the current rate of improvements to buildings is far too slow.
“Our inquiry will examine the government’s approach to energy efficiency, whether it is showing enough ambition in helping to tackle fuel poverty and in encouraging homeowners, businesses and landlords to upgrade. We will also be keen to explore the additional measures which may be needed to deliver energy efficiency improvements that could bring significant benefits for individuals, the economy and the environment.”
The inquiry comes ahead of next year’s spending review and the government’s upcoming revision of its fuel poverty strategy.