Energy Saving Trust & The Green Deal

Tenants in private rented housing want to go green – but are LEAST likely to be benefitting from energy efficient, money saving upgrades, new research from the Energy Saving Trust has found.

The exclusive survey of more than 2,000 UK adults found of those living in privately rented housing:

• 39 per cent were interested in an energy efficient boiler upgrade
• 44 per cent were interested in double glazing
• 45 per cent were interested in insulation

Privately- rented homes with cavity walls are least likely to have cavity wall insulation fitted (34 per cent) compared to homes owned outright or mortgaged (51 per cent).

Energy Saving Trust experts see solid wall insulation as the biggest opportunity for the private rented sector, with nearly half of homes being suitable for this measure, which is approved to receive funding under the ECO as part of the Green Deal.

David Weatherall, housing strategy manager at the Energy Saving Trust, said: “This is a win-win situation for both landlords and tenants. Landlords get home improvements without the upfront costs, and tenants have warmer homes to live in.

“We have detailed information on what is happening with the UK’s housing stock – some of the leakiest in Europe – and where. We know which homes are likely to be rented privately, and which of those require energy efficiency upgrades that could benefit the landlord and their tenants. This helps ensure installers only target the homes most in need of energy efficiency improvements under the Green Deal.”

For more information see bit.ly/WTpyvG or email the Energy Saving Trust at business@est.org.uk

Article provided by the Energy Saving Trust