The Government has increased the target for Solid Wall Insulation (SWI) measures from 17,000 a year to 21,000 a year in response to evidence provided by INCA on behalf of the external wall insulation industry.  Last year, the Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) called on the Government to double the target for Solid Wall Insulation (SWI) measures in the 2017 ECO transition period and welcomes the 24% increase announced today.

Analysis undertaken by AgilityEco on behalf of INCA showed that the cost estimates in the Government Impact Assessment were overstated by more than £200 million and that the ECO support required to deliver SWI was much lower than assumed.  Whilst the increase has been welcomed, INCA believes the target still falls short and further support could have been provided to support the eight million British households living in solid wall homes.

Fuel poverty cannot be effectively tackled without a strong focus on SWI as almost half of Britain’s ‘fuel poor’ families live in solid wall homes[i].  INCA will continue to work with Government to ensure that the design of the new scheme from April 2018 is based on evidence from the industry.

INCA Chairman Mitch Gee said:

“I am pleased that the evidence gathered by AgilityEco from INCA members has been recognised by the Government; however, the ECO SWI target still falls short of what is required to really start to address the 8 million families living in solid walled homes including half of Britain’s fuel poor. As the leading trade association for external wall insulation, INCA will continue to provide robust evidence and expertise to support Government in its development of energy efficiency schemes.” 

~ Ends ~

 

Notes to Editors

  1. The Insulated Render and Cladding Association (INCA) is the recognised trade association for the EWI industry representing system designers, specialist installers and key component suppliers – inca-ltd.org.uk.
  2. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is an energy efficiency programme introduced into Great Britain at the start of 2013, which places legal obligations on the larger energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures to homes to reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. – https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/energy-companies-obligation-eco.
  3. INCA’s response to the ECO2 Extension ‘Help to Heat’ consultation can be viewed at: www.inca-ltd.org.uk.
  1. The Government’s response to the ECO2 Extension ‘Help to Heat’ consultation can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/586260/ECO_Help_to_Heat_Government_response_FINAL_26_Jan_17.pdf
  1. AgilityEco provides a range of professional services to clients in both the public and private sectors in the area of energy efficiency – agilityeco.co.uk.

[1] Department of Energy and Climate Change [DECC] (2012), ‘Fuel Poverty: changing the framework for measurement. Taking forward the recommendations from the Hills Review’. London, DECC