Our round table will bring housing professionals together to delve into the practicalities of the urgent need to decarbonise social housing and explore solutions to accelerate this transition. Reducing carbon emissions from energy use in social housing can make major impacts on energy bills for tenants experiencing fuel poverty, and contributes to net zero goals, with social housing being a major contributor to emissions currently.
The round table will explore the social, environmental, and economic benefits of energy efficiency improvements in the sector, including improved indoor air quality, and job creation in the green economy. It will also ‘unpack’ the challenges and barriers to decarbonisation in social housing, including funding constraints, technical complexity, and regulatory limitations. Delegates will draw on real-world insights to illustrate the multifaceted nature of these challenges and the need for holistic solutions.
The panel will explore a range of best practice strategies for energy efficiency upgrades, including:
- insulation, double glazing, and energy-efficient appliances.
- integrating renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, and heat pumps, into social housing developments.
- Retrofit programmes, including innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds and revolving loans.
- Government policy frameworks and regulatory incentives for driving decarbonisation in social housing e.g. carbon pricing, energy efficiency standards, incentives for renewables.
- Community engagement and capacity building: engaging with residents to increase their participation in decarbonisation efforts; community-led initiatives, tenant education programmes, and partnerships with local organisations.
The event will conclude with recommendations to Government and industry for addressing the urgent need to decarbonise social housing at scale to meet the targets.