The UK government has released its long-awaited “warm homes plan”, detailing support to help people install electric heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and insulation in their homes. It says up to 5m households could benefit from £15bn of grants and loans earmarked by the government for these upgrades by 2030. Electrified heating and energy-efficient homes are vital for the UK’s net-zero goals, but the plan also stresses that these measures will cut people’s bills by “hundreds of pounds” a year. The plan shifts efforts to tackle fuel poverty away from a “fabric-first” approach that starts with insulation, towards the use of electric technologies to lower bills and emissions. Much of the funding will support people buying heat pumps, but the government has still significantly scaled back its expectations for heat-pump installations in the coming years. Beyond new funding, there are also new efficiency standards for landlords that could result in nearly 3m rental properties being upgraded over the next four years. In addition, the government has set out its ambition for scaling up “heat networks”, where many homes and offices are served by communal heating systems. Carbon Brief has identified the key policies laid out in the warm homes plan, as well as what they mean for the UK’s climate targets and energy bills. Why do homes matter for UK climate goals? What is the warm homes plan? What is included in the warm homes plan? New funding Heat pumps Rooftop solar Efficiency standards Heat networks What does the warm…
