The National Audit Office Report on the failure of government insulation schemes highlights the need for effective quality control and investment in a skilled workforce.
The scale of the failure is shocking with 98% of external wall insulation and 29% of internal insulation, installed under ECO4 (Energy Company Obligation 4) and GBIS (Great British Insulation Scheme), resulting in major issues requiring remediation. The report reveals that poor oversight of these schemes, administered by Ofgem and funded by the big energy suppliers, has resulted in substandard work. This policy failure has similarities to the cladding scandal in that it hits the most
vulnerable and those with least financial resources hardest. A complete overhaul of the governance of future schemes is needed in order to restore public trust.
The Architects Climate Action Network calls on the Government to prioritise carrying out surveys of all affected properties and ensuring ALL defects are put right. Future schemes need to be properly funded to deliver quality and accountability. As well as establishing an independent and properly resourced system of regulation, this means developing a workforce skills plan and investing in training. To avoid future problems, all workers in the field need to have an understanding of heat and moisture movement in buildings, the benefits of vapour permeable insulation materials, and the importance of ventilation as well as insulation in ensuring healthy homes.
