• The Heat and Buildings Strategy has been published and is clear, in line with the Climate Change Committee, that the electrification of heating through the deployment of heat pumps will form a major part of how buildings are heated in the future. The announcement of a Fairness and Affordability consultation is also a positive step to help rebalance electricity and gas prices. 
• Recent policy announcements from the Ten Point Plan and the Energy White Paper have provided policy detail on energy efficiency and fuel poverty, and some intentions around low-carbon heating, such as the scale of heat pump installations targeted for the late 2020s.
• However, detailed delivery mechanisms are still lacking, and the scrapping of the Green Homes Grant has damaged industry and consumer confidence.

The Government must act on the ambition set out in the Heat and Buildings Strategy and provide a pathway and public funding to reach longer term goals. This must contain the requisite ambition to put the sector on track to meet the UK's NDC, Sixth Carbon Budget and Net Zero target. For further details, see the underlying list of recommendations, but this should include:

1. Providing a clear direction via ambitious dates for phaseout of fossil fuel technologies and energy efficiency standards. Policy consistency is key to develop industry confidence in the transition.
2. Make low-carbon buildings financially attractive through funding for low-carbon technology and reform of fuel duty.
3. Ensuring that the sector has the requisite skills for the net-zero transition, and updating informational approaches such as EPCs.

Policy Connect has provided further recommendations for an ambitious Heat and Buildings Strategy via the ‘Pipeline to 2050: building the foundations for a  harmonised heat strategy’ report.

• Buildings emissions in 2019 were 87MtCO2e, or 17% of the UK total (CCC Sixth Carbon Budget, 2020)
• Total buildings emissions fell 1% from 2018-19 (CCC Sixth Carbon Budget, 2020)
• Residential buildings emissions rose by 7% in 2019-20 and non-residential buildings emissions fell by 4% in 2019-20, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic and working from home. (CCC 2021 Progress Report)
• Major emission reductions will come from rapid increases in heat pump installations, loft insulations, cavity wall insulations, and solid wall insulations
• Current government ambition in one area (energy efficiency and behaviour change in non-residential buildings) is in line with net zero but is limited in policy. In two areas (energy efficiency and low-carbon heat in new homes, and energy efficiency in existing homes) ambition is on track with net zero but policy is insufficient. In one area (low-carbon heating in existing homes) ambition and policy is limited and risks falling behind on the pathway to net zero 

1

Provide clear direction

CCC argues that 'electrification is of primary strategy importance for Net Zero', even in areas where hydrogen grid conversion is widespread. 'It is essential that the Government sets a clear commitment to electrification through the 2020s, including a stable and long-term support framework to build heap pump supply chain to sufficient scale'

The Government state clearly that the electrification of heating through the deployment of highly efficient electric heat pumps must form a major part of how we heat our buildings in all future scenarios. The Government note that to meet this the market for heat pumps needs to grow to approximately 600,000 installations per year by 2028. This level of heat pump deployment, including in new-build properties, is essential for ensuring an electrification-led route remains viable. The Government has launched a consultation on the introduction of a market-based mechanism to support investment and innovation in transforming the consumer proposition for heat pumps. The £60 million Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) ‘Heat Pump Ready’ Programme will support the development of innovation across the heat pump sector, and aims at advancing heat electrification to support the decarbonisation of homes.

Yes

2

Provide clear direction

Introduce phaseout dates and standards. This include
- All new builds zero-carbon by 2025 at the latest
- Rented homes achieve EPC C by 2028 (alongside social homes)
- Lenders target EPC C across entire housing stock from 2025-2033
- All homes for sale achieving EPC C by 2028
- All commercial efficiency renovations completed by 2030

- The HBS said they will ensure all new buildings in England are ready for Net Zero from 2025. They are bringing in the Future Homes Standard and have consulted on the Future Buildings Standard for new-builds in England. To enable this, the Government will introduce new standards through legislation (such as Building Regulations) to ensure new homes and buildings will be fitted with low-carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. - The HBS stated that all private-rented homes will meet EPC C by 2028 for all tenancies, and are aiming to publish a response to this consultation by the end of the year. - The Government closed a consultation on improving home energy performance through lenders on proposals to require mortgage lenders to disclose energy performance across their property portfolio and on introducing voluntary targets to improve the energy performance of their portfolios to an average of EPC band C by 2030. consultation proposes making these targets mandatory if insufficient progress is being made. - The HBS notes the Government will aim for as many existing homes as possible to achieve EPC C by 2035 - The HBS states that privately-rented commercial buildings will achieve a minimum efficiency standard of EPC band B by 2030 in England and Wales, and have consulted on how to enforce this target

Yes

3

Provide clear direction

Introduce phaseout dates and standards. This include
- All boilers hydrogen-ready by 2025
- Ban on new oil/coal heating options by 2028 (BEIS has long-awaited proposals to publish here)
- Ban on gas boilers by 2033 (except in areas with hydrogen-conversion/low-carbon district heating)
- Ban on new gas CHP plants by 2025, with a conversion of existing CHP plants by 2040 at the latest

- The Government's Hydrogen Strategy states a consultation will be released later in 2021 on the case for enabling, or requiring, new natural gas boilers to be easily convertible to use hydrogen (‘hydrogen-ready’) by 2026. - The HBS states the Government will consult on ending the installation of high-carbon fossil fuels to heat homes that are not connected to the gas grid in England from 2026 and non-domestic buildings not connected to the gas grid from 2024 - The Government has set the ambition of phasing out the installation of new natural gas boilers from 2035 - The Government has further launched a call for evidence on decarbonisation pathways for CHP operators, which is open to 20 December 2021

Partly

4

Making low-carbon buildings financially attractive

Enable household-level flexibility by implementing Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan

The CCC state that to develop a more flexible electricity system, the Government has published a Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, a Digitalisation Strategy, and a call for evidence on large-scale long-duration storage. The Government is also considering reform of the status and role of the Electricity System Operator, with a view to it taking a stronger role in network planning and provision of advice across the wider energy system on how to drive forward Net Zero ambitions. The availability of smart tariffs will allow consumers to take advantage of the flexibility afforded by heat pumps and storage; potentially shifting demand and reducing fuel bills.

Yes

5

Making low-carbon buildings financially attractive

Rebalance policy costs, where currently fuel duty on gas is too low, and fuel duty on electricity is too high. A favourable VAT regime is also needed for low-carbon technologies

The Green Gas Levy will apply to gas prices and reduce this discrepancy. There is also a commitment in the HBS to look at rebalancing policy costs on electricity and gas to favour electrification. The Strategy commits to the launch of a Fairness and Affordability Call for Evidence to help rebalance electricity and gas prices and to support green choices, with a view to taking decisions in 2022. The CCC has said this must progress in the coming months.

Partly

Making low-carbon buildings financially attractive

There is no mention of a favourable VAT regime for low-carbon technologies. As the Heat and Buildings Strategy expects a lot of these technologies and cost reductions to be market led, there is further scope for the Government to regulate VAT to drive costs down

7

Making low-carbon buildings financially attractive

The Government must assess how the cost of all forms of heating can be made fair, and low-income/vulnerable households protected

The Government is boosting funding for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, investing a further £800 million over 2022/23 to 2024/25, and Home Upgrade Grant, investing a further £950 million over 2022/23 to 2024/25, which aim to improve the energy performance of low income households’ homes, support low-carbon heat installations, help to reduce fuel poverty and build the green retrofitting sector to benefit all homeowners. This could also be dealt with in HMT’s Net Zero Review.

Yes

8

Making low-carbon buildings financially attractive

Increased funding for low-carbon heat. CCC suggests that by-and-large, existing schemes are well-targeted. Major funding gaps are:
1. Public sector buildings
2. Bridge funding for heat pumps and low-carbon heat networks

3. With the scrapping of the Green Homes Grant, there is a funding gap for the able-to-pay market, as remaining energy efficiency schemes focus on the public sector or social housing.

The CCC note that the Government’s proposals in the HBS move more quickly away from public funding to a market mechanism and note that if this is successful, this would be a desirable outcome, but it brings different delivery risks, which will need to be carefully managed. The CCC warn that if costs do not fall as rapidly as the Government expects, or the market mechanisms stall, increased public funding may prove necessary. They also state that public funding is uncertain beyond the Spending Review (2024).

No

9

Enabling measures - information and skills

The Government should move beyond a reliance on EPCs (which have limitations around quality control and limited scope). This should involve an urgent plan to improve EPCs, and use other informational approaches - PAS2035 home retrofit plans, and digital green building passports

There is no mention in the HBS on how to reform EPC and adopting a more holistic approach including digital green building passport to unlock green finance

No

10

Enabling measures - information and skills

A policy framework is needed to develop the skills necessary for a green buildings sector. Current institutions are not equipping the buildings sector with the necessary skills

There is no clear policy framework in how the green buildings sector will develop the skills necessary to reduce the sector's emissions. The HBS states that the Green Jobs Taskforce's action plan for England will be published in Spring 2022.

No

11

Enabling measures - information and skills

Skills policy framework should also scale up inspections and enforcement activity, to ensure that legislated standards are actually being applied

There is no mention of scaling up inspections and enforcement activity in upskilling employees to ensure legislated standards are being applied

No

12

Getting on with it

Undertake Local Area Energy Plans for Local Authorities to better understand the specifics of low-carbon heat delivery in each local area

The CCC notes that the Heat and Buildings Strategy is vague on the role for local area energy planning. The HBS states that BEIS has work underway with Ofgem to develop a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by local area energy mapping and planning and is considering the most appropriate policy options to take forwards.

Partly

13

Getting on with it

BEIS and Ofgem should collaborate on a major study to identify prime candidate areas for hydrogen/full electrification at a national level.

The HBS proposes ongoing collaboration between BEIS, Ofgem and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to collect and share data on the impact of heating assets on the electricity networks. However specific plans for strategic investment in electricity networks are not expected until later this year.

No

14

Getting on with it

Supporting Pathfinder Cities/Areas, which can provide a large-scale context in which to trial low-carbon heat, engage the public and generate information about system issues. BEIS/MHCLG could identify 3 demonstrate areas for 2025-30, plus a pipeline for the 2030s.

- The Government state they will continue to invest in 100% hydrogen heating trials through a neighbourhood trial by 2023, a village trial by 2025, and a possible hydrogen town pilot by 2030, which will allow them to take strategic decisions on the role of hydrogen in heating by 2026.

- There is no mention of a Heat Delivery Body or similar body to formalise governance structures and coordinate national, regional and local government.

- The Government is working on and investing £338 million over 2022/23 to 2024/25 into a broader Heat Network Transformation Programme to scale up low-carbon heat network deployment and to enable local areas to deploy heat network zoning, which will create a step change in low-carbon heat network market growth.

Partly