Image © Shutterstock
The government has been criticised for “negligible advances in improving the energy efficiency of UK homes” in a report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).
The report also comments on the slow pace of the installation of low carbon heating solutions and securing a sustainable balance of water supply and demand.
NIC’s annual Infrastructure Progress Review highlights positive progress, such as continued growth in renewable electricity, but says energy efficiency has been subject to a more short term and changeable approach in recent years.
The report identifies ten specific priorities for the year ahead, including an acceleration of home energy efficiency improvements – including tightening minimum standards in private rented sector homes – and faster roll out of electric vehicle public charge points. It also highlights the need for government to urgently finalise proposals on water efficiency labelling and new building regulations within the year to help achieve the 110 litres per day consumption target by 2050.
The top ten short term priorities for government – based on past recommendations accepted by ministers – are:
| Theme | Targeted action for the year ahead |
|---|---|
| Supporting growth across regions | Move away from competitive bidding processes to give local areas more flexibility and accountability over economic growth funds, and implement flexible, long term devolved budgets for all local transport authorities |
| Demonstrate staying power by progressing the Integrated Rail Plan for High Speed 2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail and remaining committed to the £96 billion investment required | |
| Follow through on commitments made in 2018 to the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford growth arc, by setting out how the road and rail infrastructure to support new houses and businesses will be delivered | |
| Net zero and energy security | Deliver a significant increase in the pace of energy efficiency improvements in homes before 2025, including tightening minimum standards in private rented sector homes, to support delivery of the government’s target for a 15 per cent reduction in energy demand by 2030 |
| Remove clear barriers to deployment in the planning system by publishing National Policy Statements on energy to accelerate the consenting process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects | |
| Accelerate deployment of electric vehicle public charge points to reach the government’s expectation of 300,000 by 2030 and keep pace with sales of electric vehicles | |
| Ensure that Ofgem has a duty to promote the delivery of the 2050 net zero greenhouse gas emissions target | |
| Building resilience and enhancing nature | Implement schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 this year and without delay |
| Rapidly put in place plans to get on track to reduce per person water consumption to 110 litres per day by 2050, starting by finalising proposals on water efficiency labelling and water efficient buildings this year | |
| Initiate a step change in recycling rates, including for food waste, by proceeding with the Consistency of Recycling Proposals, and finalising the Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Scheme |
