Mike McGowan, Divisional Director at WPS, and Chair of the Policy Working Group for the National Home Decarbonisation Group, has responded to the National Audit Office’s recently published report on energy efficiency installations under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) – urging the government and public to remain confident in the retrofit sector’s ability to deliver high-quality, life-changing schemes.
“While new research findings on the ECO and GBIS schemes paint a bleak picture on the quality of already installed external wall insulation on up to 23,000 homes, the National Audit Office also investigated government funded schemes including the Warm Homes: Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Home Upgrade Grant and the Local Authority Delivery Schemes. This paints a completely different picture – one that won’t surprise the major retrofit decarbonisation contractors working hard to successfully deliver energy efficiency measures at a huge scale.
“NHDG members’ purpose is clear: to provide warmer, safer homes for residents through high-quality retrofit works. After all, that purpose is the very reason these funding schemes have been brought forward, and what the retrofit sector works so hard to deliver. It’s not just about improving homes, it’s about the wider physical and mental health benefits that come from more comfortable, affordable living conditions for all.
“According to the National Audit Office, no widespread problems were found within the government-funded large scale, capital grant schemes investigated in its report, as a result of the greater oversight and scrutiny these schemes are subject to. Members of the NHDG, which are responsible for a significant proportion of the large-scale retrofit work being undertaken in the UK, are committed to continuing to provide high-quality, resident-focused schemes that demonstrate collaboration and innovation – ensuring that the retrofit sector continues to move in the right direction, overall. We’re pleased to see recognition of the successful work that’s being done, but will only use this as additional motivation to ensure that every scheme moving forward meets ever higher standards.
“Strong consumer protection and quality assurance must remain vital components within all retrofit schemes. Strict oversight and scrutiny from local authorities and social housing providers, alongside robust procurement processes and contracting arrangements, significantly reduce the possibility of poor-quality installations on their schemes. The success of this model is something that industry and government must look to replicate across the sector.
“The opportunities presented to communities through government-funded retrofit schemes can be transformational, with area-based schemes becoming more prominent. Within these programmes it is likely that multiple funding schemes may be utilised, facilitating cross tenure retrofit. This will allow us to go further, faster. However, it is our responsibility to retain high levels of quality, standards and ethics as we embark on the next stages of this mission.
“We must continue to focus our efforts on delivering the highest possible levels of quality and compliance – ensuring that all people involved in specification, installation and monitoring are both competent and confident to fulfil their duties.
“Learnings from the NAO’s energy efficiency installations report will be taken forward by NHDG members with a proactive mindset focused on raising standards, which we strongly encourage the wider retrofit sector to follow suit in doing. These efforts will be underpinned by our commitment to collaboration and sharing best practice, while always placing residents at the heart of our decisions.”
