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Written question asked by Alex Sobel (Labour) on Thursday, 14 December 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 December 2017 (named day). It was answered by Claire O'Neill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 December 2017 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Heating: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how the Government plans to communicate with the public the potential changes required to reduce emissions associated with heating buildings in line with the UK’s emissions reduction targets.

Answer

The Clean Growth Strategy, published in October 2017, has a very clear focus on the challenges and opportunities involved in decarbonising heat in buildings. This included announcing:

  • Improving standards of the 1.2 million new boilers installed every year in England and requiring control devices to help people save energy;
  • Phasing out the installation of high carbon fossil fuel heating in new and existing buildings during the 2020s, starting with new build properties; and
  • Government’s intention to consult on:

      • Improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings (subject to the conclusions of the independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety);

      • Raising minimum standards of energy efficiency for rented commercial buildings;

      • Exploration of voluntary building standards and how these might support improvements in the energy efficiency performance of business buildings.

The Department will set out more detail during 2018, engaging with industry representatives, consumer groups and other stakeholders to ensure a broad cross section of viewpoints are taken into account when formulating policies in these areas.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
119572
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Heating Greenhouse gas emissions
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk