Chris Stark (UK Climate Change Committee ("CCC")) said at the BPF Annual Conference last week that decarbonising buildings is one of the biggest sustainability challenges the UK will face in the next 10 - 20 years. Heating homes and commercial buildings is a big contributor to carbon emissions, with an estimated 78% of homes in England and Wales relying on gas heating.

The UK Government's Heat and Buildings Strategy was published in October 2021. The goal is to improve energy efficiency whilst switching to low carbon sources of heat. In order to do so the Government proposes to:

  • support industry to provide skills training;
  • encourage the use of smart technology;
  • set minimum standards for existing buildings and new builds;
  • reduce direct emissions from public sector buildings; and
  • stimulate and grow heat pump, heat networks, and green finance markets.

It appears that the financial burden is to lay heavily on the public sector.

The CCC's assessment of the strategy is that, whilst it lays out important high level decisions on the approach to reducing emissions, there is a lot of work to be done and fast. The CCC points out numerous gaps in the strategy, including how to achieve home efficiency measures and where funding will come from. We are experiencing a cost of living crisis now, with energy prices sky rocketing. And the CCC rightly states that urgent action is needed with policies that take into account these new circumstances. Stark suggested that moving from gas to electricity needs to be a priority to both decarbonise and protect consumers from further gas price increases.

It is no good developing heat networks without a sufficient number of skilled professionals trained to connect buildings to those networks. Training takes time and money. The country needs to be acquiring these skills now if we hope to meet 2035 switch over targets. The Government acknowledges that an holistic approach is needed, but that relies on clear pathways being established for all aspects of delivery in a timely manner.

The UK's Heat and Buildings Strategy is a welcome step in the right direction. However, with little movement since it was published 8 months ago there is a concern that action will not be taken in time.