Energy providers such as E.ON have helped install significant amounts of insulation, but to meet national emissions targets, the government must do more to make existing homes more efficient, according to a new report.
The new report by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) claims that in order to meet the 80 per cent CO2 emissions reduction targets urged by the Committee on Climate Change, around 25 million homes must have a low-carbon retrofit.
According to the report, 80 per cent of the homes that will be standing in 2050 have already been built – ahead of the law requiring new homes to be zero-carbon in 2016.
So existing domestic buildings, which the report claims account for 27 per cent of UK emissions, must be made more efficient.
The report suggests "green mortgages" which homeowners could pay back as they make savings on energy bills.
Among the recommendations urged by the report and echoed by E.ON are installing double glazing and energy efficient boilers.
