Q&A: Energy efficiency in old houses
This briefing paper answers some commonly asked questions about improving energy efficiency in older domestic buildings. It does not focus on specific issues associated with listed or heritage buildings.

On Tuesday 5 July the House of Commons will consider estimates of spending on climate change and decarbonisation as part of the Estimates Day debate. This briefing provides background information for the debate and also parliamentary and media coverage of the issues.
Estimates Day debate: The Spending of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on action on climate change and decarbonisation (475 KB , PDF)
On Tuesday 5 July MPs will debate Government spending on climate change and decarbonisation as part of the Estimates Day debate.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has a wide remit and is responsible for:
The department works with 42 agencies and public bodies.
One of the Department’s objectives is to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, while supporting green jobs and mobilising investment to deliver a green industrial revolution across the UK. Excluding the Cost-of-Living measures, 20% of the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget in 2022-23 is allocated exclusively for these aims.
This is a 4-percentage point increase compared to 2021-22, when 16% of the total DEL budget (excluding the £5.6 billion one-off deposit to the Nuclear Liabilities Fund) was exclusively for this objective.
The BEIS Estimates memorandum (PDF) published alongside the Main Estimate 2022-23, contains a detailed breakdown of the department’s spending. This includes information on spending controls and key drivers of spending changes since last year.
Chapter 2, section 5 of the Climate Change Committee’s 2022 Progress Report to Parliament, published on 28 June 2022, provides an assessment of Government’s policies and plans, for achieving net zero including and an assessment of their delivery and implementation.
Estimates Day debate: The Spending of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on action on climate change and decarbonisation (475 KB , PDF)
This briefing paper answers some commonly asked questions about improving energy efficiency in older domestic buildings. It does not focus on specific issues associated with listed or heritage buildings.
A Westminster Hall debate on the British Energy Security Strategy is scheduled for Tuesday 5 July 2022, from 2:30-4:00pm. The debate will be led by Mick Whitley MP.
This briefing paper provides an overview of flood and coastal risk management in the UK, including which bodies manage risk, current UK Government policy on flood risk management, and how flood funding works.