Our submission to the Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes Inquiry

We’ve made a sector submission to the Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry on the Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes.

Our submission:

• States that our sector is fully committed to making sure that quality, sustainability and long-term value are at the heart of constructing new homes, and that existing homes are made cleaner and greener.
• Highlights that housing associations are ready to play a leadership role, but they cannot do this alone. The government, local partners, residents, lenders and investors all have a crucial role to play.
• Specifically, we highlight three key areas where government action is required:
  • Investment and action to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise existing homes should form part of the government’s economic recovery plan, with the social housing sector leading the way.

  • A clear roadmap for the sector to bringing emissions to net zero by 2050, supported by ambitious and accurate targets and standards, will be need to provide certainty. The lack of this remains a major barrier to housing associations retrofitting at scale and pace.

  • Delivering and building on the government’s commitment to a ten-year social housing decarbonisation fund to kick-start a retrofit revolution, and working with our sector on its design and implementation.