Current social housing emissions not enough to reach net-zero

The Sustainable Energy Association has published a new report to demonstrate how social housing can lead the way to net-zero.

The Leading the way to net zero paper argues that the ambitious target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 requires substantial commitment and government action, but current steps are not enough. The Sustainable Energy Association says that in the residential sector, which currently accounts for 22 per cent of UK emissions, ‘business as usual’ will not go far enough to meet net-zero.

As such, councils need to go further in adopting the techniques and technologies that will make a real difference, with the SEA arguing that social housing can raise the bar and set the standards for all housing provision.

A combination of deep retrofit of existing social housing, far greater standards in new-builds and rapid market growth of low carbon heating systems is required to bring about change. Therefore, the association calls on the government to: legislate its Energy Performance Band C target to raise all homes to EPC Band C by 2035, starting with social housing by 2030; deliver a new and improved Decent Homes Standard that better reflects the new climate target; and implement the Future Homes Standard as soon as possible so that new homes are future proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency. Increased government funding for energy efficiency measures, specifically in social housing and incentivising landlords to improve efficiency through ‘warm rent’ tenancy agreements are also recommended.

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of the Sustainable Energy Association, said: “Social housing providers care about the quality of the properties they build and rent and have a long-term interest in the communities in which they are based. At the SEA’s roundtable held in the House of Lords, housing providers expressed their concern about climate change and demonstrated a willingness to take on the challenge, however, they also highlighted the significant obstacles they face, particularly with funding. There is a real opportunity for the social housing sector to lead the way in reaching net-zero, but to take advantage of that opportunity, stable and consistent policy together with funding support is required.”