The Energy Saving Trust has stated that in order to reach the governments carbon emission targets, 13,400 homes per week need a full re-model.

Today the Energy Saving Trust is highlighting that in order to meet the Government’s home refurbishment target of 7 million homes, 13,400 homes per week will need to have whole house makeovers by 2020. This refurbishment work would consist of upgrading the basic insulation of a home, and then adding other measures such as water efficiency measures, advanced insulation or microgeneration.

This information comes as the Energy Saving Trust plans to launch its new Sustainable Refurbishment guide at “Ecobuild”, Earls Court 2nd – 4th March 2010. The guide will assist the housing industry to take a whole house approach to upgrading the energy performance of existing homes. The guide will show how to achieve an ambitious 80% reduction in carbon emissions from a range of different homes: applying home improvements that go well beyond those required in current building regulations. 

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust commented: “With the Government’s 2016 zero carbon homes policy we have a clear trajectory to achieving very low carbon new homes in England. We need a similar roadmap towards a low carbon existing housing stock – laying out a set of standards that we expect our homes to reach in 2015, 2020, 2030 and 2050.  Our refurbishment guidance is an important contribution to developing that roadmap – showing how different types of homes can reach an ambitious 80% carbon reduction target. A government existing homes roadmap will give an incentive for homeowners to invest in home improvements and a clear signal to builders and installers to train staff to be able to deliver the energy and carbon saving measures.”