Harry Bratt
Articles

New project tasked to boost accuracy of EPCs
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has announced a new project alongside BEIS to “modernise home energy rating scheme in time for Future Homes Standard”. As part of a 3-year undertaking, BRE will develop a new version of the Standard Assessment

Our guide to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
f you’re looking to make your home more energy-efficient and future-proof, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is here to help. This UK government initiative supports homeowners in England and Wales to switch to low-carbon heating systems, like heat pumps or

Energy criteria high on UK homebuyer checklists, survey finds
Buying a cost-efficient and low carbon home with a heat pump, or another form of low-carbon technology, is becoming more important to prospective homebuyers. That’s according to new research conducted by the estate agent, Savills. The analysis shows

£200 a year saving for insulated homes, says new assessment
An assessment has found that boosting the energy efficiency of six million homes between 2009 to 2019 will save them nearly £200 per year from April 2022. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) assessment found six million homes had been upgraded to

Nearly half of the UK’s ‘heat pump ready’ homes are interested in getting one
According to a new survey by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) almost half of all ‘heat pump ready homes’ are interested in installing a heat pump. That is equivalent to around seven million homes. The poll of 2,000 people also

Chancellor cuts VAT on insulation, heat pumps and solar panels
The Chancellor has announced VAT for solar panels, heat pumps, roof insulation will be reduced from 5% to zero for five years. Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged to end VAT rates for energy saving materials in the latest Spring Statement delivered to parliament,

Heat pump market sees rapid growth but falls short of net zero targets
A recent review of 2021 figures, collated by Carbon Brief, show heat pump sales growing to double-digits in countries such as Austria and China, but globally remains short of net-zero targets to embrace the low-carbon heating technology and limit global

Architects lead retrofit march on Whitehall
Earlier this month, architects and campaigners led a march on the Houses of Parliament demanding the Government take action on energy efficiency and low carbon heating in homes. A coalition of 25 organisations led by the Architects Climate Action Network

Figures reveal poor EPC ratings for South Oxfordshire homes
Figures collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 56% of homes in South Oxfordshire had an EPC rating of Band D or lower in 2020-21. Despite the pressure of an energy crisis, many homes in the region are losing heat through their fabric

UK must do more to insulate draughty homes, says head of Climate Change Committee
The UK must do more to insulate the country’s draughty homes, says Britain’s climate change chief. Government policy on insulation is “very poor” and better policy is the solution to the energy crisis, says Chris Stark, head of the

What’s it like living with an air source heat pump?
As the installation of heat pumps increases in the UK, we are often asked what it’s really like living with a heat pump, as opposed to a gas boiler, or other forms of

Households facing 54% rise to energy bills as price cap is lifted
Households are set to face a large increase in energy bills from April after the regulator lifted the cap on default tariffs to £1,971. Due to a quadrupling in energy prices since last year, Ofgem, the energy regulator, has lifted the maximum rate that