MPs call for government to scale up renewable home heating

Cross-party MPs support stronger government policy and increased finance to scale up the installation of renewable heating technologies for new and existing homes to help meet net zero targets, a YouGov survey has found.

The survey found that the majority of MPs agree that retrofitting the UK’s existing 29 million homes with green energy technology should be made a priority, and more than three quarters believe that small-scale renewables like heat pumps should be incorporated into all new build properties from 2022.

Less than half of MPs questioned believe the government is doing enough to meet net zero targets, with MPs supporting new regulations requiring all new homes to be net zero by 2023.

The UK’s existing housing stock currently produces 20% of its carbon emissions, mainly from the use of gas boilers.

David Cowdrey, Director of External Affairs at the MCS Charitable Foundation, who commissioned the research, said: ‘If the government is serious about meeting emissions reduction targets, the decarbonisation of our current and future homes must urgently move up the political agenda, backed by robust legislation.

‘Less than half of the MPs polled believe the government is delivering on this, sending a clear message that they need to take decisive action, with the Treasury committing funding, to accelerate the home heating revolution.’

The survey findings follow the recent publication of the government’s Heat and Building Strategy, which outlined a £450m finance package to support the installation of up to 30,000 heat pumps a year.

This falls short of the level of funding and urgency needed to meet the government’s target of 600,000 annual heat pump installations by 2028.

He added: ‘Following COP26, home decarbonisation should be a top government priority. Banning all fossil fuel heating from new homes by December 2023 and investing in a green heating future can cause a ripple effect. It’s good for the economy and the environment. Boosting green skills will also create thousands of new jobs with people trained to future proof the way we heat our homes.’

In related news, all new homes and buildings will have to install electric vehicle (EV) charge points from next year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced. 

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina