Decarbonising heat in buildings

Greater building energy efficiency reduces the need for additional electricity generation and ensures heat demand is as manageable as possible.

Decarbonising heat is widely recognised as one the greatest challenges we face, as the UK works to cut carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, as required by the Climate Change Act 2008. Heat is a complex and whole-system problem, which cannot be solved by considering one part of the solution in isolation. There are different property categories and end-users, with different concerns for the fuel poor compared to households in the ‘able to pay’ markets, and the domestic compared to the commercial or other non-domestic markets. Policy must take a tailored approach.

Integral to the issue of heat is the improvement of energy efficiency. Greater building energy efficiency reduces the need for additional electricity generation and ensures heat demand is as manageable as possible.

This briefing sets out the critical actions which need to be taken during this parliament to support an increased take up of low carbon heat solutions and ensure that a more comprehensive heat policy can be developed in the next parliament.