The UK Government has committed to cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Homes account for 27% of the UK carbon emissions and poor insulation means £1 of every £4 spent on heating in many UK homes is wasted. Cutting emissions from UK homes is widely accepted to be one of the most easily accessible, fast and relatively cheap means to reduce carbon emissions. It is also strongly associated with both economic and social benefits: reducing waste, lowering household bills and improving health.

Our ‘Warm Homes’ campaign will tackle the root cause of the problem by addressing policy, taking advantage of an immediate political opportunity in the form of the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill. We’re calling for legislation to target the private rented sector that contains some of the least energy-efficient homes, and to support and incentivise landlords to adhere to a minimum standard by 2016. The result will be improved energy efficiency for over half a million households.