We need to save the planet and we need to do it without leaving people behind. The human race is working on it and UK carbon emissions are falling. The stars of the show – wind turbines and solar panels feel high tech and futuristic; Governments and scientists are putting huge faith in Hydrogen power a new, unproven technology but with real potential, smart tech and battery power will all play their part. But there is a way of reducing our carbon emissions equal to each of these but you won’t ever see it.
Retrofitting homes is one of the most effective ways to reach net-zero. There are over 27 million homes in the UK, and the energy efficiency of buildings plays a significant role in reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Retrofitting means upgrading existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency, such as by improving insulation or installing energy-efficient heating systems. It’s estimated that retrofitting could save up to 30% of energy consumption in buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from homes by 19%. There are few other interventions that will have this scale of impact.
The benefits of retrofitting homes are clear. It can significantly reduce energy bills, improve indoor air quality, and create jobs. According to a report by the UK Green Building Council, retrofitting homes in the UK could create up to 150,000 skilled jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries by 2030. Most importantly it can help to tackle fuel poverty, which disproportionately affects vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. According to a report by the Association for the Conservation of Energy, retrofitting all fuel-poor homes in the UK to the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C could lift 900,000 households out of fuel poverty and save them an average of £370 per year on energy bills. Close to the £400 the government is currently paying each household.
Thankfully, organisations like the Severn Wye Energy Agency are driving this effort forward. As a non-profit organization dedicated to tackling fuel poverty and climate change, we are working to retrofit homes across the UK, identifying areas of improvement and providing support to homeowners and tenants.
Since 2014, we’ve helped retrofit over 4,000 homes and saved an estimated 5,600 tonnes of CO2 per year! Our work has also resulted in an average energy bill reduction of £230 per year for each household that received support, and improved the comfort and health of homes.
It may be tucked away in lofts and in walls or flowing through pipes in our basements but retrofitting homes will help save the world.
