Improving the energy efficiency of homes and buildings will make them warmer and easier to heat. An average 9,000 excess winter deaths each year in England and Wales are attributable to cold homes and there is evidence of the health and well-being benefits of improved heating and energy efficiency, including reduced hospital emergency admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

Reducing underlying energy demand through increasing energy efficiency will be critical in achieving net-zero targets. Installing energy efficiency measures in homes and buildings has an up-front cost but reduces energy demand and carbon emissions.

In order to achieve net-zero-carbon in the UK, the majority of existing heating sources will need to be replaced with low-carbon alternatives. However as the UK building stock is one of the oldest in Europe, this is a challenging task. Electric heating and green gas are the two main low-carbon options being explored by Government for residential heating and most consumers will likely transition to one of these two solutions...