In September 2023, Rishi Sunak delivered a speech on Net Zero, laying out the Conservative Party’s plans. In the introduction, he said, “When I look at our economic future, I see huge opportunities in green industry.” However, the main purpose of the speech was to announce that the Government was scrapping what they saw as some unrealistic current plans and targets, including:
In explaining why they were getting rid of these and other targets, he stated: “It cannot be right for Westminster to impose such significant costs on working people, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet, and to interfere so much in people’s way of life without a properly informed national debate.” He added, “While we will continue to subsidise energy efficiency - we’ll never force any household to do it.”
Friends of the Earth has assessed and rated the four main parties’ policies on climate, energy, nature and the environment, scoring them out of 10 on the 10 biggest issues. Unsurprisingly, the Greens come out on top, but it is interesting that the Conservatives score is much lower than Labour’s. This perhaps demonstrates the consequence of adjusting policies to take greater account of people’s finances and appreciating the fact that it can take time to change lifestyles and habits.
So, with reducing carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2050 still very much a goal, what are the Conservatives and other main parties proposing in the way of ‘green’ policies related to housing and greener energy production as we head towards the election?
Conservatives
Labour
Liberal Democrats
Green Party
Of course, all these are simply pledges at the moment and it could be some time before we have any more specific targets for things like raising the minimum EPC rating and having to make boiler and insulation upgrades by law.
However, the cheaper and easier it is to heat a home, and the more environmentally friendly it is, the more appeal it will have to many buyers and tenants, so it’s well worth investing in making energy efficiency and other ‘green’ upgrades when and where you can in the meantime.
If you’d like to discuss what specific improvements it might be worth making to your property, we’re always here to help. Just get in touch with your nearest branch and have a chat with one of the team.
Looking for advice?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris varius condimentum lorem, at rutrum risus malesuada vel. Praesent et neque leo.
Contact Us
Got a question, general enquiry or something else?
You may also like
Since we started in 1987 we have grown to one of the UK’s largest property groups, we can save you time and money by offering a range of services and expertise under one roof.