The UK government has committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050 under the terms of new legislation put forward.
This makes the UK the first country in the world to commit to becoming a “net-zero” carbon emitter and goes even further than the existing 2050 target, which was to reduce emissions by 80%.
The primary methods to achieve this tough goal will be to completely avoid any emissions from homes, transport, farming and industry. In the case that emissions cannot be completely wiped out, then other offsetting measures such as the planting of trees will be done instead.
One of the main ways in which emissions will be cut from the UK’s housing stock is by making all properties as energy-efficient as possible.
The best way in which this can be done is to ensure that homes all across the country are fully insulated. So many properties across the UK – especially older buildings – lack proper insulation measures, meaning that huge amounts of heat escape through the roof and walls. In turn, the families inside these homes have to use more fuel to heat their homes and have a larger emission footprint as a result.
We are right in the heart of the insulation industry and have been for many years, so we know just what a massive difference insulating a home can make. By reducing heat loss with insulation, energy bills can be cut by upwards of £400 per year, drastically reducing the amount of fuel used and greenhouse gases created.
This latest legislation does have its critics, with some saying that the target is unattainable, whilst others are saying that 2050 is simply too late to avoid catastrophic damage from climate change. Scotland has already committed to a net-zero target by 2045, five years ahead of the UK governments target.
With that said, however, it’s good to see that laws are being put into place to tackle the massive, global issue that is climate change, and we hope very much that these words are followed up on with real, effective action.
By making homes across the UK more efficient, we can take a huge step toward tackling this issue and make properties across the country more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and much cheaper for the families within to run.
For more information regarding the environmental – and financial – benefits of home insulation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team, who will be more than happy to help.