Power to zero
The challenge of decarbonising the UK’s existing housing stock is significant, and will require innovative policy, investment and logistical solutions to solve it. Not doing so will make meeting the Government’s net zero ambitions almost impossible.
Our report with IPPR, 'All hands to the pump: A home improvement plan for England', shows that it will cost £36 billion over the next ten years to combine heat pumps with high energy efficiency standards that are needed to radically reduce carbon consumption in our homes.
It also lays out the huge opportunities that could be realised from this home energy revolution, where the current policies are failing and why, before outlining the preferred technologies to deliver the strategy and how it should be delivered and paid for.
The UK’s unemployment figures skyrocketed in March 2020, and every month since. The nation is now on track to have the highest rise in unemployment numbers since the Great Depression. But investing a national retrofitting programme, driven by the social housing sector - a 'Clean Heat Plan' - has the potential to create up to 275,000 jobs in England by 2035, and 325,000 jobs in the UK.
An introduction from Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive
"In a post-pandemic world, we (and many other businesses) have the opportunity to learn from experience and I believe that pursuing ‘earth friendly’ and sustainable solutions will become more important than ever - it’s something we feel very passionately about."
Read hereAll hands to the pump: A home improvement plan for England
Our report in partnership with IPPR
Access report here
All Hands to the Pump Podcast
Our latest podcast episode highlights the key recommendations from the report. Have a listen below.
Housing for the future webinar
This event took place on Wednesday 15 July at 16:00-17:30 (BST). You can watch the recording of the event below.
Upgrading and greening our homes is an opportunity to create new jobs, level up the UK and secure more good quality and affordable housing.
IPPR has developed a plan for the housing sector to deliver faster action to address climate change; ensure further action to transform our economic and deliver a fairer approach that will lower bills and make sure communities benefit from the change to come.
At this event, the panel discussed IPPR's recent research into decarbonising the social rented sector, as well as wider policy action to address carbon objectives, funding models and consumer perspectives.
Our speakers:
- The Rt Hon Lord Deben, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change
- Thangam Debbonaire MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing
- Amy Simmons, Head of Policy, National Housing Federation
- Nicholas Harris, CEO, Stonewater
