BEIS study to investigate hard to decarbonise homes

Heat in buildings accounts for 37 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions. However, an estimated ten million homes in Britain are difficult to insulate or improve by conventional means.

In line with the government’s net zero 2050 target, this project aims to identify these homes and define what makes a home ‘hard to treat’ in the context of energy efficiency, with a practical framework aiming to help inform policy and guidance on tackling challenging properties.

The study is being undertaken by a collaboration between the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London and urban innovation agency DG Cities.

Initial research includes an assessment of existing evidence, and interviews with specialists in housing, energy, conservation, industry, residents’ associations and built environment professionals, among others, to build an extensive evidence base.

“This isn’t just about buildings, it’s about people – ‘hard to treat’ doesn’t just mean the properties, but also the diversity of ownership, needs, as well as the time and budget residents are able to spend,” said Ed Houghton, head of research and service design at DG Cities.

“This project is about making sure that nobody, and no property, is left behind when it comes to the transition to net zero carbon. We want to highlight what works, and draw on a wide range of examples to assess not only the challenges of these properties, but also the practical interventions that can make a difference.”

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There are significant economic, social and health benefits to improving the quality of all housing stock, but there is a statistical relationship between ‘hard to treat’ and fuel poverty, government research shows.

For example, properties with uninsulated solid walls have a higher rate of fuel poverty (22.5 per cent of these households are in fuel poverty, compared to eight per cent of those with insulated solid walls).

Older homes are frequently more challenging to keep warm, and their residents are also more likely to be in fuel poverty: 21.7 per cent of households living in pre-1919 homes were in fuel poverty in 2020, compared to ten per cent of those built between 1965 and 1985; and less than five per cent of those built after 2002.

The diversity of homes in the UK means there is no one size fits all solution. The country also has the oldest housing stock in Europe.

The study will address every domestic building type, from heritage properties to multiple-occupancy towers; any type of home where it is not easy to incorporate conventional cavity insulation, loft insulation or low-carbon heating solutions such as heat pumps. The efficacy of approaches will differ considerably by context, materials, housing type and resident behaviour.