This report demonstrates how the cost of living crisis is being driven by inexorably rising energy bills. Improving home energy efficiency is the most effective way to combat rising energy prices, but politicians are focusing instead on energy company profiteering and environmental levies. The report highlights seven steps government should take to increase levels of home energy efficiency retrofit and reduce consumer energy bills, including:

• Smart regulation that requires energy efficiency improvements as part of major home renovation projects
• Fixed financial incentives for owner-occupiers improving the energy efficiency of their homes
• Prioritising retrofit in Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)-led economic development programmes
• More effective integration of local public health and energy efficiency programmes