New Government analysis revealed that millions of tonnes of carbon and billions of pounds from fuel bills could be saved by simple measures, such as cavity wall insulation.
The initial report from the Review of the Sustainability of Existing Buildings shows that millions of homes across the country could benefit from cost-effective improvements that cut both carbon emissions and fuel bills. Widespread implementation of such improvements could save around 7MtC (million tonnes of carbon) a year.
In a speech to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said more needed to be done to give householders the information and support they need to make changes to their homes.
She highlighted the potential of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which will be introduced next year and linked to green mortgages or schemes, such as the Council Tax rebates - offered by some local authorities through funding by energy companies.
She also said the need for more homes across the country gave us the chance to develop new energy efficient technologies, which could be exported to other countries.
Yvette Cooper said: "This research suggests our existing homes and buildings could offer some of the most cost effective ways to cut our national emissions over the next few years. After all, many of the measures needed to cut carbon from our homes also help cut our fuel bills as well.
"New housing should be seized on as an opportunity to increase environmental standards rather than as a threat. The sheer scale of new building is an opportunity to raise standards, to develop and implement new technologies and reap the benefits of economies of scale.
"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 is 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."
Findings of the review include:
Implementing measures with the fastest pay back and replacing boilers over time could save 7MtC a year and make house holders better off.
Cavity wall insulation has increased from 20% of our 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. 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.
Reaching the 60% target by 2050 will require high take up of micro-generation, including emerging technologies such as heat pumps and micro CHP.
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.
East Lothian Housing Association (ELHA) is digging deep for the heat for its new homes on the outskirts of Tranent, supported by Communities Scotland. On first inspection, the construction site at West Windygoul looks much like any other. The difference is that each of the 54 homes under construction will use the surrounding gardens to heat them.
The homes are being fitted with heat pumps to provide low-cost hot water and heating to the Association's tenants. The system is safe, quiet, and efficient. Water is pumped through pipes in bore-holes to the side of each property, where the ground temperature heats it to 11 degrees centigrade. A compressor boosts the temperature to 45 degrees before the heat is transferred to the under floor heating system and hot water tank, where it is further boosted to 60 degrees.
Each kilowatt of energy used in the system will normally produce three to four times the energy delivered, leading to lower fuel bills and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
Lee Campbell, ELHA's development officer, said:
"We are committed to providing energy-efficient, sustainable housing for rent and reducing the risk of fuel poverty."
Alastair Dee, Communities Scotland's investment manager in Lothians, Borders and Fife, added:
"We are keen to measure the impact of these measures at West Windygoul. We have asked ELHA to undertake an independent monitoring and evaluation exercise to establish the environmental benefits and the effect on energy bills and use."
Grant funding of £4.5 million from Communities Scotland backs the £6.4 million development at West Windygoul. The Energy Savings Trust and Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative financed project feasibility work and increased insulation for the homes. East Lothian Council contributed towards the cost of the ground source heart pumps.
