Efficiency & Sustainability
ONE EVERY MINUTE: THE RATE HOMES IN ENGLAND NEED ENERGY-RELATED UPGRADES TO MEET 2050 NET ZERO TARGET
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new analysis of the energy efficiency performance of residential properties in England has found that if the UK government is to hit its Net Zero target, nearly one home needs energy performance-related upgrades every minute up to 2050.
To examine the scale of inefficient housing stock in England, home improvement specialists Eurocell, analysed national Energy Performance Certificate( EPC) data, to understand the full extent of the task at hand in upgrading ageing housing to a minimum rating of C in line with government Net Zero targets.
According to the EPC data( data as of December 2024), there are currently estimated to be around 12,778,637 homes in England that have a rating of D or below that are likely to be eligible for upgrades that bring them in line with a C rating. It works out as almost one home every minute that requires energy performance-related upgrades- or 57 homes an hour.
WHY AN EPC RATING OF C?
The government has set a legally binding target to reduce the UK’ s net emissions by 100 % by 2050 compared with 1990
• Analysis of EPC data by home improvement specialists Eurocell, has found there are an estimated 12,778,637 homes in England that have a rating of D or below
• It means almost one home every minute in England needs energy-related upgrades to meet the UK Government’ s target for all homes to have an EPC rating of C by 2050
• Birmingham, Leeds and Cornwall are the three areas with the most properties rated D and below.
levels. This is known as the‘ net zero target’. As part of that target, the government is aiming for homes in England and Wales to have an EPC rating of no lower than C.
A property with an EPC rating of C will typically feature good insulation( loft, cavity walls, and floors), energy-efficient heating systems( modern gas boilers or heat pumps), and double or triple glazing to reduce heat loss. It might also include energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy systems, modern appliances and draught proofing.
Commenting on the research, Beth Boulton, Marketing Director at Eurocell, said:“ It’ s no secret that England has an ageing housing stock across the entirety of the market, and it needs modernising to today’ s energy efficiency standards. But what our analysis of EPC data really shows is the full scale of the challenge ahead for the home improvement and construction industries to support the government’ s targets in meeting Net Zero by 2050.”
The government has also set out specific targets for the private rental sector as part of its bid to reduce household energy costs. As of 2030, all private landlords will be required to meet a higher standard of Energy Performance Certificate( EPC) C or equivalent in their properties – up from the current level of EPC E. This includes social housing.
According to the latest data, there are 4.6M private renters in England and just over 4M in socially rented housing too.
76 MAY 2025 CLEARVIEW-UK. COM