Last month Prime Minister Theresa May revealed an ambitious new target to drastically cut UK carbon emissions1.
Editorial credit: Shutterstock.com
Under the new government legislation, greenhouse gas emissions (carbon emissions) in the UK will be cut to almost zero by 2050. This is positive news for all those who are concerned about climate change and the environment.
The actual term used by the government is to reach ‘net zero’ greenhouse gases by 2050. This means no (or negligible) carbon emissions from all UK homes, modes of transport, farming and industry, which would be a huge achievement.
So how does insulation play its part?
It’s all down to home heating and energy efficiency. You may be surprised to learn that home heating still makes up the biggest percentage of annual household carbon emissions in the UK2.
Installing effective insulation and switching to more efficient boilers would help to bring that figure down.
With warmer, more energy efficient homes across the UK we’d be able to keep in the heat and turn down the thermostat. And that could go a long way to reducing harmful carbon emissions and protecting our planet’s future.
Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, director of the Royal Institution is just one expert voice urging the government to make sure the UK insulates enough houses in time to meet the 2050 target.
“The prize for improving the efficiency of buildings is significant,” he said3. “However, there is a practical challenge in terms of the number of sufficient skilled workers to undertake the work, and then of course the barrier of getting homeowners to get the work done.”
Professionally installed insulation may be a step in the right direction for the environment, but what if you need help to make those crucial improvements?
It’s worth knowing that people on lower incomes can apply for financial help under the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.
ECO is funded by the larger energy suppliers. If your household qualifies, an ECO grant could cover the cost of installing energy-saving measures including Cavity Wall insulation, Loft insulation and Solid Wall insulation and even Boiler replacement.
The government estimates that energy efficiency and heating measures worth £640m a year4 will be delivered across Great Britain through the ECO scheme.
ECO is available to homeowners and also to tenants with the permission of their landlords. You can find out if you could improve your home through ECO funding on our grants page.
So there’s a lot more to insulation than saving money on energy bills and keeping warmer at home. It’ll be a major factor in helping to reduce UK carbon emissions into the future.
As Prime Minister Theresa May said, “As the first country to legislate for long-term climate targets, we can be truly proud of our record in tackling climate change … Now is the time to go further and faster to safeguard the environment for our children.”
“Reaching net zero by 2050 is an ambitious target, but it is crucial that we achieve it to ensure we protect our planet for future generations.”
InstaGroup is proud to back the UK’s aim to tackle climate change. We’re committed to environmentally sound solutions, including the use of recycled materials for insulation and throughout our business operations whenever possible.
If you’d like to know more about insulating your home or want to ask about applying for an ECO grant, we can help. Get in touch or call the friendly InstaGroup team on 0800 023 2944.
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