Government has a clear opportunity to keep down energy costs in British homes
The Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association (MIMA) have responded to the Queen's Speech.
Whilst the Queen’s speech reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and lacked specifics on the Industrial Strategy or the Clean Growth Plan, MIMA believes the Government is well positioned to drive forward action on reducing emissions through the Clean Growth Plan and encourages it to commit to making progress soonest.
MIMA’s executive Director, Sarah Kostense-Winterton comments, “The Government has previously made it clear in its Industrial Strategy that delivering affordable energy for homes, lower bills and opportunities for clean growth are central to its energy policy. We can help Government achieve this aim to keep down energy costs in British homes and businesses, by delivering a bold, new buildings energy infrastructure programme which brings 20 million homes up to
EPC Band C by 2035."
MIMA firmly urges the Government to embrace the following 3 opportunities:
- Realise Energy Saving Potential in Homes
- Cost effective investments in energy efficiency and low carbon heating to 2035 could save around one quarter of the energy currently used in UK homes.
- Net benefits of £7.5 billion delivered to the UK (1).
- Generate Economic Returns and Productivity Gains
- Investing to improve the energy performance of buildings across Great Britain is an investment in our national infrastructure and can generate substantial net benefits in all parts of the country, supporting the Industrial Strategy’s vision.
- A large-scale buildings energy infrastructure programme could have a significant, long-lasting positive impact on productivity, skills and growth.
- Boost Buildings Energy Performance Investment
- Under existing policy, it is projected that there will be a 50% decline in domestic energy efficiency improvements being installed in 2015-2020 compared to 2010-2015 (2).
- By launching a buildings energy infrastructure programme the Government can boost investment in energy saving without driving up energy bills further.
- Repairing and restoring business confidence and investment in the industry - ensuring a long-term, sustainable approach for improving building energy performance.
This new and innovative Buildings Energy Infrastructure Programme is designed as a long term, deliverable plan to give the market and most importantly the consumers real confidence by setting a target to make all homes perform to a decent energy efficiency standard. With the consumer at the heart, it is a programme based upon high quality and best practice, drawing on the highest standards of workmanship and delivery to inspire consumer confidence and on the best practice in low carbon heat and energy efficiency programme planning in the UK today.
