The event was chaired by HHIC Director, Stewart Clements and the keynote speaker was Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Energy Consumers). Other speakers included Henrik Juhl Hansen, Chair of HHIC, Jeff House, Chair of the HHIC Policy Group, and Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA). The event was attended by members of HHIC, key stakeholders in the heating industry and government representatives and there were great proactive discussions between the attendees.

The future strategy paper focusses on the importance of the collaborative approach across industry and government that will be needed to reach net zero, while supporting and protecting consumers as they decarbonise their homes.

In her keynote speech, the Minister told attendees: “Decarbonising our housing stock is not going to be easy. It will take time. But I hope that it is clear that this national mission is already well underway, with government fully committed to working with you to unlock the benefits of this agenda.

She added: “Warm and efficient homes powered by clean, renewable, British energy are within our grasp. And we look forward to continuing to work with you all as we seek to deliver on that energy promise we made to every household in Britain.”

The HHIC strategy document, ‘Heating up to Net Zero: Piecing together the Sustainable Future’, sets out the policy direction and recommendations which will need to be enacted if net zero is to become a reality. From the need to re-skill the installer base to government incentives to drive consumer uptake of new and emerging heating technologies, and from new and updated regulatory measures to adopting national standards: the HHIC believes these are important and positive steps in the right direction.

Stewart Clements said: “It is important that all the different stakeholders involved – industry organisations, government, manufacturers, regulatory bodies, installers, and local authorities need to work together to ensure the UK achieves its goal in building a truly fair and sustainable future.”

The full strategy paper can be downloaded here: https://hhic.org.uk/resources/15