Chief executive of the BMA, Tom Reynolds, has called for more joined-up thinking among legislators and specialists across the home improvement industry in a bid to aid the Government’s plan for Net Zero.
Speaking at the Net Zero Carbon Parliamentary Debate, organised by The National Home Improvement Council, and hosted by The Rt Hon Lord Stunell OBE at the House of Lords, Reynolds delivered a speech that called for action on climate change to be delivered through retrofit.
He said: “All too often green housing policies have been developed in an uncoordinated way, with the policy owners acting in silos. There has been no longevity in any initiative to have greater impact on carbon reduction targets. We must try to join up our thinking and actions to make a real difference.”
Reynolds also highlighted the need for consumers to understand the role of water efficiency in reducing carbon emissions when they plan their home refurbishments. He also called on the Government to use the Unified Water Label (UWL) scheme as it develops its mandatory water labelling system for products, which is part of the Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan to reduce personal water consumption to 110 litres per day by 2050.
He concluded: “Transforming 27million homes to make them net zero is complicated but has great benefits for all. It won’t be achieved if individual departments do their own thing, or individual parts of the home improvement sector go off on a frolic of their own. We must try to join up our thinking and actions to make a real difference.”
The event brought together experts from all sides of the home improvement sector to debate the case for a revolution in our approach to addressing the climate emergency, while tackling the post-covid economic recovery, creating green jobs and ensuring building safety. Speakers included NHIC president Lord Andrew Stunell, NHIC CEO Anna Scothern, Hannah Vickers of the Construction Leadership Council, Alex Thwaites from OVO and Paul Simpson from Recticel Insulation UK. Also in attendance were Craig Baker, MD Kohler Mira UK and Yvonne Orgill, MD of the Unified Water Label (UWL).