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Lessons for net zero: What past energy efficiency and low carbon home improvement schemes tell us

Lessons for net zero: What past energy efficiency and low carbon home improvement schemes tell us 595 KB

Significant investment is needed to achieve the net-zero target and tackle fuel poverty. New schemes must learn from, and build on, the lessons from the past in this area. Previous policies to improve the efficiency of homes and to encourage investments in energy efficiency and other low carbon home technologies have had mixed success. There have also been some notable failures that must not be replicated in future schemes.

Lessons for net zero brings together what we know about previous schemes from our research and the experience of our clients and advisers.  

Particularly it covers issues from schemes including the Energy Company Obligation, the Green Deal, the Renewable Heat Incentive, and the Feed-in Tariff.

It identifies the following lessons:

Inform

  • Design and implement a simple and easy to access consumer journey

  • Take all opportunities to influence behaviour

Protect

  • Make clear that the government will take action to protect consumers from rogue traders

  • Demonstrate that there is regular, effective, monitoring and enforcement of standards of work

  • Provide trusted redress routes

Support

  • Avoid boom and bust

  • Provide incentives that consumers will respond to

  • Schemes should be sustainable and fair