Summary

Regen’s response to the inquiry’s call for evidence focuses on three key interdependent challenges at the centre of home heating that we have identified through our work:

• Customer journey: There is a lack of trusted, balanced, bespoke advice available to homeowners.
• Supply chain: The gas engineer workforce is shrinking, and we need to give the next generation of engineers the confidence to invest in the growth of the 21^st century heating industry.
• Strategic planning: national and local coordination will be required to unlock the best solutions for people and planet.

Across these three themes, we need to build confidence in the direction of travel. We need clarity for consumers, trust for the supply chain to invest in growth, and a solid basis for locally delivered place-based projects.

Top 5 recommendations

1. Double down on the commitment to EPC C by 2028 for rental properties.
   Ensuring the UK’s housing stock is more resilient to future energy fluctuations should be a priority – there is no time for delay. Sustaining the commitment would also help rebuild confidence in the direction of travel.
2. Commit to a ‘central’ national pathway on energy efficiency and wider heat decarbonisation.
   The lack of clarity around hydrogen for home heating is damaging our ability to adequately prepare for net zero electricity infrastructure. National infrastructure decisions need to provide a framework for individuals to make decisions in their home – not provide unfettered ‘customer choice’. Failure to plan for the future of home heating will result in poor customer experiences and increasing costs.
3. Local authorities should lead on ‘joined-up’ local decarbonisation plans, working with local energy networks.
   Funding should be made available that is more dynamic and supports sustainable innovation so that local authorities can target areas of greatest need.
4. Ensure communities are engaged in the planning of heat infrastructure in their locality using well designed participatory approaches.
   Many heat solutions benefit from economies of scale. With community involvement from the outset, projects better serve local needs and have higher acceptability, even for unfamiliar technologies.
5. Provide better support through the individual customer journey, by funding whole-house assessments.
   There is a need for independent, personalised whole-house assessments and retrofit plans (to be delivered over several years according to customer preferences.) Compared to financing retrofit, these assessments require relatively little funding.