Insulation and Glazing news from 2023
64 stories, newest first
- December 2023
Aereco announces new MVHR range
Aereco has announced a new mechanical ventilation with heat recovery range, led by the InspirAIR Top Premium unit, which the company says carries Passiv Haus certification and recognition in the PCDB database.
Energy Systems Catapult report finds EPCs undermining decarbonisation efforts
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report arguing that domestic Energy Performance Certificates should be reformed, proposing three new metrics and Digital Building Passports to align the system with Net Zero.
ECIU publishes analysis of impact of scrapping MEES on renters in marginal seats
ECIU analysis says scrapping planned Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards could leave around 2.8m privately rented homes without improvements, with renters in marginal seats facing £40m a year in extra bills.
Aereco launches new MVHR range
Aereco has added a new mechanical ventilation with heat recovery range to its UK product line, announced on its homepage alongside its existing demand controlled ventilation systems.
- November 2023
Which? publishes Priority Places for Insulation Index mapping UK insulation need
Which? has published an interactive index ranking UK local areas by home insulation need, fuel poverty and the availability of insulation installers, with 13.3 million households estimated to need loft insulation.
Bristol City Council publishes V.3.1 Statement of Intent for ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme Flex
Bristol City Council has published version 3.1 of its flexible eligibility Statement of Intent for ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, setting out four routes and seven proxies for identifying eligible households.
GGF reports 98% of homes losing energy through underperforming windows
The Glass and Glazing Federation says 98 per cent of UK homes are losing energy through underperforming windows, in research published on its environmental hub.
GGF reports 98% of UK windows would fail current standards if installed today
The Glass and Glazing Federation says 98 per cent of UK windows would fail current standards if installed today, and puts the annual saving from replacing pre-2002 windows at up to £4.1 billion.
Which? launches priority places for insulation index and calls for insulation support for vulnerable households
Which? has published an index scoring all 650 UK constituencies for insulation need and called on the government to ensure support reaches fuel poor and vulnerable households.
- October 2023
Safestyle enters administration and FENSA suspends its approval
Safestyle announced on 30 October 2023 that it had gone into administration, and FENSA suspended the firm as a FENSA Approved Installer the same day.
National Insulation Association submits response to Scottish Government EPC reform consultation
The National Insulation Association has told the Scottish Government it backs a separate fabric rating on reformed EPCs, a five-year validity period and wider installer choice for Home Energy Scotland funding.
Changeworks and Melville Housing Association install external wall insulation in Penicuik
Changeworks has overseen external wall insulation at two Melville Housing Association properties in Penicuik, part of a wider programme targeting 75 homes in Midlothian.
Great British Insulation Scheme launched
The UK Government expanded the ECO scheme to include the Great British Insulation Scheme in October 2023, with 2,723 Scottish households recorded as having benefited by February 2025.
UKGBC adds Window Insulation coating to its solutions resource
The UK Green Building Council added an insulating window coating for retrofit to its solutions resource in October 2023, listing it as an energy-saving alternative to window replacement.
- September 2023
Prime Minister delivers speech relaxing Net Zero policies
The Prime Minister's September 2023 Net Zero speech delayed fossil fuel car and boiler phase-outs and dropped planned energy efficiency rules for rented homes, prompting the Climate Change Committee to warn the UK is unlikely to meet its 2030 emissions target.
Sunak announces delays to core net-zero policies in "new approach" speech
Rishi Sunak has delayed the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars to 2035, pushed the off-gas-grid fossil heating phaseout to 2035 and scrapped rental energy efficiency rules.
GBIS and HUG schemes open for applications with new eligibility checker
The Great British Insulation Scheme and Home Upgrade Grant opened for applications on 14 September 2023, with a government eligibility checker directing households to their supplier or council.
Great British Insulation Scheme opens
The government opened its £1 billion Great British Insulation Scheme on 14 September 2023, with an online eligibility checker and a phone line for households in lower council tax bands.
Which? publishes research on homeowner insulation attitudes and calls for government action
Which? has published research showing few UK homeowners are insulating their homes despite worries about energy bills, and called on the government to improve advice and EPCs.
Titon launches HRV4 Q Plus MVHR range
Titon has added the HRV4 Q Plus to its mechanical ventilation with heat recovery range, a 600mm wide unit rated at up to 158 l/s airflow and up to 91% heat recovery.
BSI publishes updated PAS 2035/2030:2023 standards
The British Standards Institution published updated PAS 2035/2030:2023 retrofit standards in September 2023, with the 2019 versions withdrawn at midnight on 30th March 2025.
UK government launches new insulation funding for up to 300,000 households
The UK government launched funding for up to 300,000 eligible households to install insulation, as Which? research found few homeowners are looking into insulation despite concern about energy bills.
UK Government signalled abandonment of MEES amendment commitments
The National Insulation Association has said the UK Government abandoned its proposed amendments to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, as signalled by the Prime Minister's speech in September 2023.
Great British Insulation scheme formally launched
The government has formally launched the Great British Insulation Scheme, extending support for loft and cavity wall insulation to households in council tax bands A to D.
Great British Insulation Scheme launched, formerly known as ECO+
The Great British Insulation Scheme, formerly ECO+, has launched across England, Scotland and Wales, administered by Ofgem and running to March 2026, with average annual bill savings of £400.
Leaky Homes project to expand across Surrey in September
The Leaky Homes project, run by Zero Carbon Guildford and Energy Action Redhill & Reigate, plans to expand across all Surrey districts and boroughs from September, buying more thermal cameras and training community groups.
Proposed EPC C by 2025 rental standard increases scrapped
Proposals to raise the minimum energy performance standard for rented homes in England and Wales to EPC C by 2025 were dropped in September 2023, the Welsh Government has confirmed in its heat strategy.
Rental MEES regulations scrapped
Rishi Sunak has scrapped planned regulations that would have required landlords in England and Wales to bring privately rented homes up to EPC C by 2028, part of a wider rollback of climate policies.
- August 2023
Ofgem publishes GBIS Delivery Guidance V1.0
Ofgem published delivery guidance for the Great British Insulation Scheme on 31 August 2023, setting out how suppliers must meet insulation targets running to 31 March 2026.
Ofgem publishes decision on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration
Ofgem has published its final decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and changes to ECO4 will be administered, after a consultation that drew 17 responses.
- July 2023
Great British Insulation Scheme commences
Parts 1 to 9 of the ECO4A Order came into force on 25 July 2023, beginning the obligation period of the Great British Insulation Scheme, which runs until 31 March 2026.
Great British Insulation Scheme supplier obligations came into force
Legislation in force from 25 July 2023 placed legal obligations on large and medium-sized energy suppliers that meet the Great British Insulation Scheme threshold, Ofgem has confirmed.
Scottish Government publishes EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on reforming domestic and non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates, proposing new metrics, a shorter validity period and a move to a webpage format.
Version 2 added Hybrid Wall Insulation measure types
Ofgem added Hybrid Wall Insulation measure types to the Great British Insulation Scheme scores matrix in Version 2, published on 20 July 2023, the first change since the matrix appeared.
- June 2023
Research published on Warm Homes Fund savings
Newcastle University and partners have published an evaluation of the Warm Homes Fund, finding average household energy running cost savings of £922 a year and total bill savings of £10.8 million.
Citizens Advice publishes research on benefits of retrofitting 13 million inefficient homes
Citizens Advice has published research estimating almost £40 billion in cumulative benefits from upgrading 13 million inefficient homes in Great Britain to EPC C by 2030.
CMA publishes consumer protection report on green heating and insulation sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has published its consumer protection report on green heating and insulation, warning that poor information and weak quality assurance could deter households or lead to bad decisions.
Consultation on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration closes with 17 responses
Ofgem's consultation on how it will administer the Great British Insulation Scheme and amendments to ECO4 closed on 16 June 2023 with 17 responses from suppliers, installers and an energy efficiency body.
Ofgem publishes decision statement on Great British Insulation scheme and ECO4 LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has published its decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 Flex will be administered, after a consultation that drew 16 responses from councils, suppliers and installers.
Government confirms two eligibility groups for the Great British Insulation Scheme
The government has confirmed that the Great British Insulation Scheme will target two eligibility groups, with Council Tax band limits set per nation and an EPC of D or below for the general group.
Self-referral service for the Great British Insulation Scheme planned for summer 2023 on GOV.UK
The government has confirmed it plans to launch a self-referral service on GOV.UK in summer 2023 so households can learn about and access the Great British Insulation Scheme.
Wales eligibility expanded to Council Tax bands A-E
The government has widened Great British Insulation Scheme eligibility in Wales from Council Tax bands A to C to bands A to E, raising the share of eligible Welsh homes from 57% to 87%.
- May 2023
Great British Insulation Scheme scores matrix published
Ofgem published the first Great British Insulation Scheme scores matrix on 30 May 2023, setting out the scores energy companies receive for measures installed under the scheme.
External Wall Insulation innovation measure approved
Ofgem has approved an external wall insulation innovation measure under ECO4, with the InstaClad Robust EWI system approved under that measure on the same date.
Ofgem opens consultation on administration of Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendments
Ofgem opened a five-week consultation on 11 May 2023 on how it would administer the Great British Insulation Scheme and amendments to ECO4, closing on 16 June 2023.
CMA publishes findings on consumer protection in the green heating and insulation sector
The Competition and Markets Authority found in May 2023 that households buying green heating and insulation face a complex and confusing standards landscape and gaps in consumer protection.
- April 2023
Consultation on Great British Insulation scheme LA and Supplier Flex administration closes
Ofgem's consultation on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 Flex will be administered closed on 28 April 2023, drawing 16 responses from local authorities, suppliers and others.
ECO+ renamed Great British Insulation Scheme and consultation response published
The government has renamed its ECO+ insulation programme the Great British Insulation Scheme and confirmed its eligibility rules, supplier targets and ECO4 changes in a consultation response.
SOPREMA expands external pitched roof insulation range with Breathe-R and Breathe-R Ultra
SOPREMA UK has added two membranes, Breathe-R and Breathe-R Ultra, to its external pitched roof insulation range, sitting below the existing BreatherQuilt product.
Great British Insulation Scheme announced, replacing ECO+
The government's Powering Up Britain energy security plan includes the Great British Insulation Scheme, formerly ECO+, to upgrade 300,000 of the least energy efficient homes, and extends the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028.
Energy efficiency funding to open in April
Details have been published of how £630m will be spent through the Home Upgrade Grant and £780m through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, with funding available from April for insulation, glazing, heat pumps and solar panels.
Great British Insulation Scheme introduced by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps introduced the Great British Insulation Scheme, targeting homes in Council Tax bands A to D with lower energy efficiency ratings, alongside a three-year extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
- March 2023
Government response to Great British Insulation Scheme consultation published
The government published its response to the consultation on the Great British Insulation Scheme in March 2023, setting out the design of a supplier obligation later launched as a £1bn programme.
Great British Insulation Scheme begins
The Great British Insulation Scheme, a supplier obligation formerly known as ECO+, began in April 2023 to upgrade the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain, with 300,000 homes expected to benefit.
WMCA secures £34m to retrofit around 3,000 West Midlands homes
The West Midlands Combined Authority has secured £34 million of government funding, matched by £35 million from housing providers, to retrofit around 3,000 homes rated D or below.
Which? responds to government energy efficiency campaign and ECO+ scheme
Which? has welcomed the government's energy efficiency campaign and the ECO+ insulation scheme, while calling for fast delivery, independent advice and robust consumer protections.
Government response to ECO+ consultation published, renaming the scheme the Great British Insulation Scheme
The government has published its response to the ECO+ consultation, confirming the scheme will be renamed the Great British Insulation Scheme and run from 2023 to 2026 in England, Scotland and Wales.
Great British Insulation Scheme announced
The Great British Insulation Scheme, announced in March 2023 to fund insulation in less efficient homes within set council tax bands, later closed to new applicants and completed its final installations.
Great British Insulation Scheme installs just over 1,000 measures in seven months
Analysis by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition finds the Great British Insulation Scheme installed just over 1,000 energy efficiency measures between March and October 2023, as 39% of UK households say they cannot afford to insulate.
- February 2023
CCC publishes research on domestic EPC metric reform
The Climate Change Committee published research and recommendations on reforming domestic Energy Performance Certificates across Scotland and the rest of the UK in February 2023.
Climate Change Committee calls for reform of domestic EPCs
The Climate Change Committee said in February 2023 that Energy Performance Certificates are poorly suited to setting standards and targets for cutting emissions from homes, and proposed four replacement metrics.
- January 2023
E3G publishes briefing urging tighter energy efficiency rules for UK landlords
E3G has published a briefing arguing that raising minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes in the UK would save tenants £570 a year and the economy £1.75bn a year.
Plan to implement Passivhaus standard in Scotland announced
The Scottish Government announced plans on 10 January 2023 to introduce minimum environmental design standards for all newbuild housing, meeting a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.
E3G publishes briefing urging revival of MEES proposals for private renters
E3G has published a briefing arguing that the Energy Bill's return in 2023 offers a chance to revive revised Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for private rented homes, consulted on in 2020 but never put to Parliament.