The Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) has released a new report – ‘Policy Barriers and Solutions for a Technology-Agnostic Approach to Heat and Buildings’ – detailing how government heat and buildings policy can shift towards delivering the most appropriate technologies for achieving the best outcomes.
The report outlines what the SEA and Partners see as the challenges and barriers to delivering a Technology-Agnostic Approach to Heat and Buildings and suggests ways they can be overcome.
Areas identified in the SEA report range from industry communications and consumer advice activity, the short-term nature of policy phases and waves, to energy market arrangements and pricing, the EPC framework, labour and skills shortage for delivering these LCTs.
Among the solutions suggested in the report is the creation of a National Retrofit Strategy. It also suggests the Government should focus on an outcomes-based approach to policies for decarbonising buildings and widen its communications on low-carbon technologies and retrofit to include the diverse range of appropriate solutions available.
Dave Sowden, interim Chief Executive of the SEA commented: “As part of our successful ongoing collaboration, this defining report provides a rich picture of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for transitioning heat and buildings. The wide range of recommendations made to the Government should help them to refine their policies and communications to deliver a holistic, technology-agnostic and outcomes-based approach. We hope that the Government and sector continue to engage in this work to help create living and working spaces fit for future generations.”
Russell Dean, Vice President of the SEA and Residential Products Group Director, Mitsubishi Electric said: “Industry is working hard to deliver energy efficiency and low carbon heating technology such as heat pumps. It’s only with a collaborative approach, by bringing together the expertise and knowledge of businesses and government, will the fabric of buildings be made ready, that the right technology can be manufactured and the work force skilled to ultimately achieve the government’s net zero target.”
To see the report in full please click here.
