CIEH calls on Chancellor to focus on energy efficiency in budget

CIEH is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to focus on energy efficiency in cold homes in his upcoming budget.

There were 50,000 excess winter deaths in 2017/18 in England, with cold homes being directly responsible for around a third of these. More than 2.5 million people in England are currently living in fuel poverty and around one million homes are languishing in the two lowest energy efficiency bands – F and G.

Across the UK, homes also account for 14% of total carbon emissions.

Alongside energy efficiency, CIEH has also asked the Chancellor to focus on air quality and food sampling as key issues for environmental health.

Anne Godfrey, Chief Executive of CIEH, said:

“Along with air quality and food, energy efficiency should be a central focus for the Chancellor.

By committing greater investment and incentives for energy efficiency in our homes right now, the Government could help to reduce unnecessary NHS costs and make greater progress towards their ambitious 2050 carbon net zero target.

Government funding should be added to the contributions being made by landlords and Energy Company Obligation funding in order to speed up improvement. This investment should be targeted at the homes of households living in fuel poverty and those with the lowest energy efficiency ratings. Financial and other incentives for homeowners should also be provided by the Government to speed up investment in energy efficiency by owner occupiers.

Finally, we are calling on the Chancellor to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for Homes in Multiple Occupation, where some of the most vulnerable tenants live.

We have been heartened by the Government’s warm words on promoting energy efficiency in our housing sector and we look forward to them turning these words into action.”

Read our Budget briefing for parliamentarians.