Isramart : Retrofitting existing homes essential to meet carbon targets

Isramart news:
Green retrofits of existing buildings are essential, and finance should be made available to do the work, or the government will fail to meet its carbon cutting targets, according to key players in the housing and construction sector. Interested organisations working with all sectors including financial institutions, builders and installers, energy utilities, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, social housing managers, homeowners, landlords, local authorities as well as with government have joined together to outline a plan of action for upgrading the UK’s woefully outdated housing stock.
Green retrofits of existing buildings are essential, and finance should be made available to do the work, or the government will fail to meet its carbon cutting targets, according to key players in the housing and construction sector. Interested organisations working with all sectors including financial institutions, builders and installers, energy utilities, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, social housing managers, homeowners, landlords, local authorities as well as with government have joined together to outline a plan of action for upgrading the UK’s woefully outdated housing stock.

The Existing Homes Alliance (ExHA) 2010 Manifesto seeks commitment from the Government to deliver a national retrofit programme, essential for moving the UK towards a low carbon economy. The need for action is pressing. Emissions from UK households are not falling, and are 5 per cent higher than ten years ago.

Key demands in the manifesto include:

• All homes to have a whole house retrofit by 2030
• £6bn a year should be invested in retrofitting the UK’s existing stock
• A 2010 to 2030 roadmap to set out minimum regulatory standards and voluntary aspirational standards for the energy performance of homes
• Energy Performance Certificates to gain greater prominence in the marketing of homes, to ensure that energy efficiency standards are reflected in house prices
• A range of financing mechanisms are made available to homeowners to cover the upfront costs of retrofitting
• Greater investment in a support and advice programme that will engage homeowners to use less energy in their homes and seek higher EPC rated properties

The Existing Homes Alliance assert that such a programme of updating the housing stock will benefit the economy by creating new jobs and reducing levels of fuel poverty. It will also provide certainty for businesses investing in low carbon measures for homes.

Colin Butfield, Chair of the Existing Homes Alliance, said:
“It is a sad fact that in the UK the majority of our homes are underperforming leaving many of us out of pocket, out in the cold and wastefully emitting carbon emissions. This manifesto outlines what we see as the solutions to our housing crisis. It is now essential that the Government establishes a national retrofit programme with some urgency so that we can meet the UK’s carbon budget targets.”