Research Uncovers Potential for Home Carbon Savings of 7 Million Tonnes

December 12, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

Millions of tonnes of carbon and billions of pounds from fuel bills could be saved by simple measures like cavity wall insulation, according to analysis from the U.K. government.

The initial Review of the Sustainability of Existing Buildings: The Energy Efficiency of Dwellings - Initial Analysis report revealed that millions of homes across the country could benefit from cost-effective improvements to cut both carbon emissions and fuel bills.

Widespread implementation of such improvements could save around 7MtC (million tonnes of carbon) a year.

During a speech on climate change, Minister for Housing and Planning Yvette Cooper highlighted the potential of energy performance certificates (EPCs) introduced next year to be linked to green mortgages or schemes such as the council tax rebates offered by some councils funded by energy companies.

"To make the difference we need by 2050 we will need radical changes to the way we heat and power our existing homes as well as new ones. Whether it be turf on the roof, wind turbines in the garden, heat pumps below the basement, or micro CHP (combined heat power) boilers, the homes of the future will need to be powered in a completely different way. And we need to develop the technology to support our Victorian terraces and sixties tower blocks as well as our modern new homes," Cooper said.

The report found:

• Implementing measures with the fastest pay back and replacing boilers over time could save 7MtC a year.
• Cavity wall insulation has increased from 20% of the U.K. housing stock in 1996 to 36% in 2003.
• The number of homes with over 150mm of loft insulation increased by 4 million between 2001 and 2004.
• A further 8.5 million homes could benefit from cavity wall insulation saving 2.1MtC a year.
• Cavity wall insulation typically costs £340 to fit and pays for itself within 2.6 years. (Over a 5-year period householders would get a 200% return on their investment). In practice, these costs and the payback period can be reduced through grants and subsidies, with some householders, on qualifying benefits, being eligible for free installation.
• Increasing loft insulation could help 6.1 million homes and deliver carbon savings of 1.2 million a year. Pay back time for loft insulation is 2.7 years and householders get a 180% return over 5 years. Grants and subsidies are available.
• Reaching the 60% target by 2050 will require high take up of microgeneration including emerging technologies such as heat pumps and micro CHP (combined heat and power).
• Research suggests that costs of low and zero carbon technologies could be reduced significantly for each doubling of installed capacity.
• Social housing is on average more energy efficient than private housing.

A summary of the Review of the Sustainability of Existing Buildings: The Energy Efficiency of Dwellings - Initial Analysis document is available online at www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1504372.

Source: U.K. Communities and Local Government.