Get Sust! Issue 36

Low-cost domestic energy efficiency measures won't deliver

A new report from the WWF-UK and ACE (the Centre for Sustainable Energy) says that the UK’s poorly insulated, energy inefficient housing stock could be easily transformed into cheaper-to-run, low carbon homes by the end of the next decade.

The research team modelled the country’s entire housing stock, then applied various energy-saving measures to the model to work out what could be achieved. Their findings suggest that we’ll fail to meet national emissions reduction targets if government incentives continue to focus on the simple measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation, draught proofing, efficient boilers, and heating controls. Instead, they suggest, incentive schemes should focus on solid wall insulation, and low and zero carbon technologies such as ground source heat pumps and solar water heating to cut domestic carbon emissions.

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Full details are in the report Achieving optimal carbon savings from the UK's existing housing stock, launched on 31 March. Download the executive summary or the full report from www.ukace.org/.