Wealthy property owners monopolize Green home upgrades, according to a union's warning

In a recent Unison report, concerns have been raised about the UK's ability to meet its 2050 net-zero target without significant improvements in government efforts to provide energy-efficient homes. The report, which surveyed public sector workers who own their homes, reveals that more than seven in ten of them expressed a desire to switch to cleaner energy but feel under-supported by the government.

Unison General Secretary, Christina McAnea, emphasised the need for a fair system that benefits everyone, not just the wealthiest households. She stated that those households who can least afford to switch to cleaner energy are the ones most in need of government help with their bills.

Short-term policies and a complex array of support packages have left millions of households with insufficient help to meet energy bills. In October 2020, PayPoint discovered that a large number of households had not received vouchers introduced by the UK government as part of their Energy Bill Support Scheme. The payment company was expected to process 800,000 vouchers in October worth over £5m, but only £27m was redeemed.

The UK government, particularly the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), along with local authorities and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), are responsible for implementing fair and accessible financing for energy-efficient home improvements to meet the UK's green home targets by 2050. However, the report suggests that most incentives to encourage a switch to greener energy involve considerable upfront costs, making it more likely for wealthier households to benefit.

In July 2020, the UK government announced a £3bn package to help British homeowners make their homes more energy efficient. The scheme offered households up to £10,000 to insulate their property, but it severely underperformed. Only 4% of those polled believe government schemes aimed at encouraging the switch to clean energy systems are affordable and aimed at them.

IPPR researchers suggested that retrofitting England's homes with good insulation and heat pumps could create millions of jobs and cut household bills. However, more than three quarters of those surveyed stated that even with up to £5,000 in government grants to upgrade to a modern air-source heat pump, they would be unable to afford the additional costs.

McAnea concluded by saying that without drastic changes in government policy, a greener future remains a distant dream. She urged ministers to address the problem immediately, stating that the UK is in the 'last-chance saloon'. The report underscores the urgent need for the government to improve its support for low-income households in transitioning to cleaner energy.