Commenting on the Spring statement, the UK Directors for Energy and Buildings at Engineering and Environmental consultants Ramboll, said:
John Mullen, Country Market Director, UK Energy, Ramboll: “A focus on family finances is of course important and understandable, but attention must also be paid to the cause of the problem, as well as the effect, otherwise we fall short in addressing the real issues. Home efficiency uptake has never reached the levels needed to meet Net Zero, even with the current reduced VAT support. It is unlikely removing VAT will be enough to encourage the uptake needed, which requires practical support and targeted legislation.
The continued problem of high and unpredictable domestic energy prices is ultimately due to our continued reliance on an international gas and oil market. By accelerating the transition into net zero and renewable energy we take back control of our energy supplies as well as meeting our environmental ambitions.
The UK has for decades lacked a long-term energy strategy that allows us to balance and react to changes in cost, security, environmental issues and social equality, and we must avoid further ‘sticking plaster’ policies that don’t get to the root cause of the problem.”
Andrew Henderson, Executive Director, UK Buildings, Ramboll added: “The fact that energy improvement scheme benefits stretch out over 5 years is an extremely welcome window as the market will need time to restart from its retrenched position. The Chancellor highlighted the economic pressures fuelling inflation, including material and supply shortages, and the domestic market will not escape these constraints, so the 5-year window is important in enabling as wide an uptake as possible.
Once supply chain pressures ease consumers will also want confidence from their home improvement energy investments, and so it would also be good to see consolidated responses from trade and industry to provide consumers with solid financial and environmental benefits.”
