Most households still waiting for Government advice on how to be more energy efficient

dailystar.co.uk:

More than eight in ten households are still waiting for advice from the Government on how to help their homes become more energy efficient, according to an industry report.The figures reveal a major disconnect between households and the Government’s “net zero” strategy, which has resulted in an industry white paper calling for urgent action in the interest of the least energy-efficient and most fuel-poor households.Of those polled, just 16% felt they had received clear advice from the Government on how they can make their property more energy efficient.Lower income households are the least energy-efficiency engaged, with only 9% of the demographic claiming to have received clear enough advice on ways to cut their energy wastage.But this rises to almost half (47%) of higher income households.Renters have also been left out in the cold, with 46% assuming they cannot make or request any non-essential changes.This is despite new legislation introduced in 2018 allowing tenants to make energy efficiency improvements.The survey of 5,000 households forms Utilita Energy’s inaugural “Household Energy Behaviour Index”, to better understand the nation’s home energy behaviours and attitudes.Archie Lasseter, sustainability lead at the energy supplier, said: “If every household was given help to reduce their energy waste, this would equate to 14% of the total carbon savings required to achieve net zero by 2050 under the Climate Change Committee’s “option 3”, vs.

the business-as-usual “do nothing” scenario from the sixth carbon budget.“This is a huge impact that has so far been overlooked by the Government – despite every energy supplier having the power to help their customers cut energy wastage without spending a single penny on home.