The LGA has identified about 3 million households where better insulation would save large sums of money for people struggling with the rising cost of living. About 70 770 million is wasted each year trying to heat these leaking homes, according to an LGA analysis by WPI Economics. The LGA has called for all low-fuel homes to be properly insulated by 2030 and estimates that at least two-thirds of the 3 million will need some form of government assistance to achieve this. David Renard, LGA Advisor and Environmental Representative, representing 350 local authorities in England and Wales, said: “So many homes are leaking more and more money as energy prices rise. This will severely affect the excessive budgets of households and the public treasury, while exacerbating the climate crisis. “Investments will now save households below, reduce the cost of living crisis and mean that families have added security and flexibility to their budgets.” The LGA said improving people’s homes would save about 500 500 million for the NHS each year, as cold and damp homes contribute to disease. It will also lead to tens of thousands of new green jobs, the LGA said. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST State aid for housing insulation is addressed to the most vulnerable through the energy companies’ liability program, which is paid through energy bills. However, this fails to reach many households and there is no widely available government program to help most other households in the UK. The Climate Change Committee warned in a scathing report this week that ministers had failed to insulate. The government aims to insulate about 900 homes a day by 2030. The LGA said it was the best place to offer insulation and energy efficiency, a view that was also adopted by the CCC. But the CCC warned that the government had proved reluctant to work with local councils. Renard said: “Ensuring that homes are well insulated also means that fewer people are exposed to the health risks associated with living in cold, humid conditions and this is work that we must do as part of our effort to net zero. “The councils want to help the government implement this policy, which will benefit and increase the number of buildings insulated by winter.”
