The recent parliamentary debate on the Winter Fuel Allowance demonstrates the urgency of a nationwide retrofitting programme to upgrade the energy efficiency of UK homes, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, commented: “MPs have taken the decision to cut winter fuel payments to pensioners, but what this really demonstrates is that fuel bills in this country have reached an unmanageable level. The UK’s existing housing stock are the oldest and least efficient in Europe. We need to see the Government put forward a bold plan to retrofit at least five million homes to make them greener and more energy efficient as an urgent priority. This will be crucial to making people’s bills affordable.”
Berry continued: “The UK Government has made a legal commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In order to achieve this, we need to decarbonise our homes and buildings. There are currently eight million lofts that need insulating, five million uninsulated cavity walls, and 20 million uninsulated floors that need upgrading if we are to reach these targets. The new Government have made a strong start with proposals to build new homes, but we need to see a nationwide programme rolled out to support local builders to install insulation, double glazing and new heating technologies across the country.”
For further information on the FMB’s retrofit and energy efficiency campaign click here
