Government must make a major shift in policy to transform the energy efficiency of our residential housing stock according to the Committee on Climate Change's first annual report.

A whole house, street by street approach in which  households are offered an energy audit, with a follow up package that includes installation,  financing and funding is needed to incentivise households to make the significant energy efficiency improvements needed to meet carbon reduction targets, says the committee.

This approach should include loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation, early replacement of old inefficient boilers and installation of heating controls. The report recommends a neighbourhood programme led by national government, will a delivery role for local government in partnership with energy companies and private companies.

Committee chairman Lord Turner said: “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.”

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