Some 12 million non-condensing boilers in the UK should be replaced with condensing boilers by 2022 recommends the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in its first annual report to parliament.

The Climate Change Act requires the government's Committee on Climate Change report each year on emissions reductions relative to the UK's carbon budgets and its first report was published October 12.

As well as replacing boilers the report also recommends:

· 10 million lofts and 7.5 million cavity walls be insulated by 2015.

· solid wall insulation (2.3 million by 2022)

· Non-residential buildings achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of F or higher by 2020.

The committee's first report said achieving this ambitious program is likely to require a shift from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) approach in which energy companies meet their supplier obligation through specific measures such as the supply of energy efficient light bulbs.

The report said 'whole house' approaches (simultaneously implementing the full range of measures) and 'street-by-street' approaches defined in a strategy by national government, involving local government and energy companies, is likely to be needed.

Lord Turner, chair of the CCC said: "With the carbon budgets in place, we now need to achieve a step change in the pace of emissions reduction. The government needs to build on its "Low Carbon Transition Plan" and put in place a comprehensive delivery framework. What we have proposed is achievable and affordable but action needs to be taken now if we are to make our contribution to combating climate change."