What are Political Policies on Home Insulation?
Insulation is a real issue these days due to the cost-of-living crisis and climate change, and is slowly creeping up the political ladder and grabbing the headlines.
Many politicians say that an easy way to reduce both energy bills and climate change (and save the NHS money by preventing hypothermia in winter) is simply to insulate all older homes for free (grants). The cost would more than be covered by the long-term benefits.
The government could insulate every home in Britain that needs it. A street-by-street insulation programme lowering bills, emissions and creating jobs. Zack Polanksi, Green Party leader
So what are the political party policies on affordable home insulation?
- Lib Dems wants to provide free insulation to all homes by 2030. Same with the Green Party.
- Labour has pledged to upgrade 5 million homes with better insulation by 2030.
- The Conservatives want 1 million homes with better insulation in the UK (there are millions more than need it).
- Reform UK has no insulation or climate change policy, instead it wants to drill for more oil and gas, to provide ‘cheap energy’ for customers? Yikes.
We’ve got the leakiest homes in Europe – losing huge amounts of energy through badly sealed windows and poorly lined walls. It really isn’t rocket science. The cheapest bill is the one you don’t have to pay. Carla Denyer (Green MP and former mechanical engineer)
In the battle for Downing Street, only the most eye-catching political policies are given a chance to shine. And insulating Britain’s draughty homes seldom makes the grade. Jillian Ambrose
Period properties lost 20% of their heat through glass, 30% through draughts, 15% through floors, 25% through walls and 10% through lofts.
Of the UK’s 27 million homes, a staggering 4 million are uninsulated and just over half of these are over 100 years old. If those older properties were insulated, it would cut this country’s carbon footprint by up to 20%. PowerVault
