The Warm Homes Plan, which is due to be published in October, is an opportunity for the government to set out their strategy for supporting homeowners to improve the comfort of their homes, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. We have highlighted three areas where government reforms, and action with businesses, can help to make the transition as straightforward and attractive as possible for homeowners
Which? response to DESNZ consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certification requirements for clean heat schemes
Which?'s response to the government's OFGEM review considers how the regulator can support consumers through a period of historically high energy prices, and build consumer trust and confidence to support the major changes required to meet net zero.
Which?'s response to the government consultation on the reform of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCS) calls for changes to help consumers understand and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Insights into consumers' current sustainable behaviours, attitudes to future changes to their behaviours and the barriers they face in doing so, with a focus on home heating (installing a heat pump, improving home insulation and installing solar panels).
A policy research report exploring consumers' uses of EPCs and potential improvments
Gaps in the auditing data mean it isn't possible to say how many EPCs are defective or how well risk based auditing is working
Over the next two decades, households will have to make significant changes to the way that they heat their homes in order to meet the UK's net zero commitments. Installing new heating and insulation can be costly and complex so it is important that consumers can easily find reliable and qualified installers. This report calls for the government to introduce mandatory certification of installers in these markets to make the process of choosing an installer easier, improve the quality of installations and protect consumers from harm
Which? has joined Citizens Advice, Nationwide and Energy UK to call on the energy minister to conduct an urgent review of consumer protections for households undertaking green upgrades to their homes
Energy Performance Certificates inform consumers about the energy efficiency of properties for sale or rent, as well the energy efficiency of their own homes. With energy costs at historically high levels, and households facing major changes to the way we heat our homes as part of the transition to low carbon heating, EPCs need to be reformed to ensure the information and advice they provide is relevant to consumers' needs, accessible, and accurate and reliable
In our response we recognise the benefits of long term targets as part of a coherent set of policies to support consumers in the transition to clean heating. Support should include information and advice, help with high upfront costs, and strong consumer protections, as well as flexibility to respond to different household circumstances and properties
Our consumer insight tracker data explores UK homeowners awareness, willingness and barriers to improving the sustainability of their home heating
Which? has developed an index to identify local areas by need for insulation by combining data on housing stock and the socio-economic and health indicators of the local population
Consumers can face some complex and costly choices when deciding how to upgrade their home insulation. This report includes new research and recommendations on how governments should help homeowners engage with these issues and ensure they have the information and advice they need as part of a broader home insulation plan