An important part of the UK’s effort to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will be adapting its 29 million homes to be more energy efficient and to use alternatives to natural gas for heating, such as electricity and green hydrogen.
Citizens Advice, Which?, Aldersgate Group and the Federation of Master Builders are urging the government to work with them to address obstacles currently faced by consumers and learn from previous lessons or else risk undermining efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
They warn that installing low-carbon heating, upgrading insulation or installing smart home technologies such as smart meters can be time consuming, stressful, and confusing. For instance, researching and choosing the right product, finding a reputable installer, and having the work completed “demands huge amounts of knowledge, time, and effort,” they say. The coalition warns that the process can be beset by problems such as poor installations, technologies...