| answer text |
<p>Investment in energy efficiency brings a wide range of economic benefits to households,
businesses, society and the energy system as a whole. More efficient homes mean lower
energy bills and increased comfort for occupants, the annual running costs of a Band
C rated home are £270 lower than the average Band D rated home and £650 lower than
the average Band E rated home. There are also benefits through the improved occupant
health, the Building Research Establishment has estimated that the cost of cold and
damp homes to the NHS is approximately £760 million per year. The energy efficiency
industry forms the largest group within the low carbon and renewable energy sector
and the UK’s energy efficient product group has a turnover of over £20.7 billion and
employs over 140,000 full time equivalents. Energy efficiency can also play a crucial
role in meeting our carbon targets at least cost, by helping reduce pressure on energy
system as we move towards low carbon electricity and heat. This is why, in the Clean
Growth Strategy, we set out our aspiration that as many homes as possible should be
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective
and affordable.</p>
|
|
