While much emphasis has been placed on making new homes energy efficient, the carbon emitted from older social housing stock built several decades ago is a concern. These poorly insulated homes go hand-in-hand with fuel poverty.

The CCC’s report puts the low-carbon spotlight on existing housing. Its recommendations for all homes to receive energy audits and a ‘whole house’ package of energy efficiency upgrades by 2030 will create a low-carbon step change. But how will this happen and who will pay for it?

Past initiatives such as ‘warm front’ and the ‘carbon emissions reduction target’ have put energy suppliers at the heart of the process, but they focus on quick wins, such as new boilers or loft and cavity wall insulation, leaving a legacy of older, hard-to-treat homes.

Housing contractors and social landlords should use this chance to take a leadership role in reducing carbon emissions in older housing.

Contractors need to prepare for the mass of energy audits the CCC recommends over the next 20 years, while also having the ability to carry out whole house packages.

While the question of funding remains unclear, we can show leadership by pushing for VAT rebates on products like new boilers and materials needed for loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation.

We can also advocate new funding mechanisms, for example, one that allows social landlords to recoup their investment over a period of time via a ‘warm rent’ addition to the standard rent - paid for by cheaper energy bills.

Brendan Ritchie is managing director for innovation, sustainability and community at Inspace

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