979. The public lack information about how to improve the efficiency of their home and reduce their energy bills. NatWest told us that:
"Although public awareness around energy efficiency is on the rise, there remains a profound gap between the desire to make home improvements and the knowledge around how to undertake the change."702
980. The Heat Pump Association told the Review that "heat decarbonisation advice to consumers is inadequate and inconsistent." 33% of people do not know enough about what energy efficiency options exist and 44% are not aware of government support schemes.703 The uncertain future of hydrogen heating (discussed in Pillar 2) can also be confusing for people and dent their confidence when it comes to choosing a low carbon heat system.
981. In addition, the Review has heard that it can be hard for people to access the right skills and supply. Skills gaps mean it can be challenging to find a local engineer with the relevant skills, and limited supply chains mean it can be hard for people to access a heat pump or spare parts without delay. The immaturity of the supply chain means that some people have bad experiences, which can deter them and others from choosing low carbon heating. All this can not only make the process of switching to a heat pump more challenging for people, but can also increase their nervousness, due to concerns that should it break, you may not be able to get it fixed straight away. The solar mission in Pillar 2 includes a suggestion to provide a list of certified installers at a local level, which could be useful here too.
982. Even when technology is in place, some people are not clear on how best to use it. For example, unlike a gas boiler, a heat pump should be constantly switched on, but many people are not aware of this, meaning its usage is not always the most effective.
983. Currently, advice and engagement are limited. Octopus told the Review that by providing consumers with low-cost, easy tips for reducing their energy demand, they were able to cut bills by 8% on average. The government has launched an energy efficiency advice service which tells people what improvements they could make to their home to increase its EPC rating. NatWest told us "this is a good step in the right direction, but a broader, far-reaching campaign is needed." Recently, government supplemented this with a public energy efficiency campaign, focused on giving households tips designed to help reduce energy bills, like draught-proofing and turning down radiators. This campaign is focused on addressing the cost-of-living crisis and is not directly linked to net zero.
Government should expand its energy efficiency advice service in 2023, ensuring that it helps consumers to access qualified traders and providers in local areas. |
984. Government should accompany this advice service with a widespread public engagement campaign. This must be designed to help households recognise how and why they should take action to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes, and to understand what support is available. It should be honest about the challenges and should dispel common misconceptions, for example that certain housing types are not suitable for heat pumps. It should also focus on helping consumers make use of low carbon heating systems in the most efficient way. This should happen alongside the public engagement strategy discussed in section 5.1.