Energy, services and regeneration specialist, ENGIE, has launched an innovative whole house retrofit solution, in a bid to combat the threat posed by existing housing stock to the accomplishment of the UK's net zero carbon ambitions.

With UK households accounting for more than a quarter of the entire UK CO2 emissions, and half the market achieving a EPC rating of D or less – radical steps are required if the UK is to achieve a mass reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The new ENGIE Zero offer has been designed as a fabric first, one-stop shop to decentralise, digitalise and decarbonise homes. Customers in local authorities, housing associations and registered providers, can implement whole house retrofit solutions; including the installation of solar PV and battery storage systems, fabric improvements to roof, walls and flooring, a low carbon heating and hot water solution, mechanical ventilation and long-term maintenance and monitoring.

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ENGIE describes how the new offer utilises the savings generated from the improvement works together with existing revenue streams and government incentives – including Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Grid Balancing Agreements – to help finance the upfront costs of the works.

Smart technologies, including rapid EV charge points can also be implemented; as well as grid balancing technologies. The ENGIE Zero solution can also offer a long-term energy performance guarantee.

Andy Merrin, divisional Head of Energy and Innovation at ENGIE UK, said: "We have very much taken our directive from the facts. We know that new homes only account for 1-2% of total housing stock and 80% of the homes of 2050 are already in existence; so it’s clear that our existing supply is a considerable threat to plans for a zero carbon future. More worrying is that in order to meet the UK 2050 target – a total of 300 homes every hour would need to be retrofitted.

"We see it as our duty to bring solutions to market for those who are proactively looking to reduce carbon emissions; and our own research demonstrated that 70% of local authorities have declared a climate emergency. We have therefore, built on our extensive housing retrofit experience – including our work with Energiesprong, delivering some of the UK’s first net zero energy homes – to develop a product that can be tailored to individual and local requirements.

"In launching ENGIE Zero, we are able to offer our partners with a viable solution to support their climate emergency action plans, help eradicate fuel poverty and improve the quality of accommodation and wellbeing. We hope this, in turn, helps drive substantial investment towards mass-scale renovations, so we can deliver the necessary alterations to the built environment and help make zero carbon happen."