As the world continues to move towards a greener future, the UK government has announced plans to make all homes more energy efficient. This means that all homes must meet stricter Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards by 2035. However, according to Rightmove, it could take decades to retrofit homes to meet these standards.
Rightmove is a property website in the UK that allows people to search for properties to buy or rent. They have recently conducted a survey of over 2,000 homeowners and found that almost half of them were unaware of the new EPC standards. Furthermore, only one in five of those surveyed said they had taken steps to make their homes more energy efficient.
The survey also revealed that the majority of homeowners would need help to meet the new EPC standards. Rightmove estimates that it could take up to 30 years for all homes in the UK to be retrofitted to meet the new standards. This is due to the fact that many older homes are not built with energy efficiency in mind and require extensive work to bring them up to standard.
Rightmove has warned that without government support, it could take even longer for all homes in the UK to meet the new standards. They are calling on the government to provide more funding and incentives for homeowners who are looking to make their homes more energy efficient. This could include grants for insulation or help with the cost of replacing inefficient boilers.
Rightmove’s findings are a stark reminder of the challenge ahead for the UK government in making all homes more energy efficient. It is clear that without additional support, it could take decades for all homes in the UK to meet the new EPC standards. It is therefore essential that the government takes action now to ensure that all homes are energy efficient by 2035.