New campaigning coalition presses for action on housing refurb

WWF has established a new coalition of campaign groups and businesses, called the Existing Homes Alliance, to press for urgent action to improve the energy efficiency of Britain's existing housing stock.

The alliance will work with all sectors, including financial institutions, builders and installers, energy utilities, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, social housing managers, homeowners, landlords, local authorities, and with government, to develop "a programme of radical, low carbon refurbishment and the role each sector can play in making this a reality".

The group's members include companies Camco, PassivHaus and PRP Architects and campaign groups such as the Association for the Conservation of Energy and the UK Green Building Council, as well as research bodies such as the Environmental Change Institute and Chartered Institute of Housing.

The alliance is asking organisations to support its efforts by signing its declaration on the future of existing housing. Signatories include BioRegional, Eco Consulting, AECOM, Wates, Manchester City Council and National Grid.

Key demands of the declaration include:
• all homes to have a whole house retrofit by 2030
• £6 billion a year should be invested in retrofitting the UK’s existing stock
• a 2010 to 2030 roadmap is needed to set minimum regulatory standards and voluntary aspirational standards for the energy performance of homes
• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) should be given greater prominence during the marketing of homes to ensure that energy efficiency standards are reflected in house prices
• a range of financing mechanisms should be created to allow homeowners to cover the up-front costs of retrofitting
• greater investment is needed for a support and advice programme to educate homeowners about how to use less energy in their homes and how to seek higher EPC-rated properties.

• WWF news release