Environment minister, Phil Woolas MP, told the National Insulation Association’s (NIA) that the government will redouble efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the UK’s housing stock over the next three years.
His statement came prior to next year's introduction of CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target), which will see in a three year time frame a doubling of the government's current efforts, translating into 3m homes having their cavity walls filled and around 2.4m lofts being professionally insulated.

Speaking at the annual conference of the National Insulation Association (NIA) (which represents over 95% of the UK's home insulation industry) on December 11, Mr Woolas said carbon savings must begin in the home

'The household sector is responsible for 27% of our carbon emissions and I am pleased to be able to address the industry which has contributed an enormous amount in reducing those emissions and really are in a leading role in the fight against climate change.'

A priority group was identified to ensure that low income and vulnerable households benefit from the CERT scheme. In addition to low income households on qualifying benefits, all people aged 70 and older will be included in the priority group for the first time.

Around 40% of all the insulation installations carried out will be directed to these householders to ensure that the priority group receives adequate insulation measures before March 31, 2011.
One area in particular highlighted by the new CERT will be solid wall insulation which in itself could benefit around 8m homes.

The draft legislation for CERT was laid before parliament on December 5 and will be debated by both Houses of Parliament in January 2008. CERT will start on April 1, 2008.

Woolas said 'the biggest carbon challenge in the UK is to significantly tackle the real 'energy wasters', the existing housing stock.

More than 40% of all the heat lost in a home is through the walls or loft space. It's estimated that over 9m UK homes have cavity walls which have not been insulated. Collectively, they are wasting around £950m every year through the energy being lost through their walls.

Increasing the thickness of existing loft insulation in 13m homes with 100mm or less of loft insulation to thicknesses required for modern new dwellings (270mm) would reduce each of their individual energy costs by around 25%.

In 2003, space heating accounted for around 53% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. Over 40% of the government's projected carbon savings for the household sector are expected to come from insulation.

Neil Marshall, chief executive of the NIA stated: 'We welcome the introduction of CERT and look forward to working with government and others to ensure that all homes are is adequately insulated. This will significantly reduce carbon emissions'as well as lower average energy bills.

There are nearly 9m homes with cavity walls that are not insulated and around half of the existing housing stock requires insulation to reach a thermally efficient standard. The insulation industry has the expertise, technology and capacity to meet the requirements for treating these homes'.

CERT builds on the success of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), which obliges energy suppliers to promote improvements in energy efficiency in households. EEC has delivered substantial carbon savings, primarily through the delivery of insulation measures.