UK: The government has established an advisory panel for a proposed reform of its insulation retrofit schemes. A preliminary audit showed that ‘most’ wall insulation installed under existing schemes may be defective. The panel will gather insights from the insulation industry and regulatory and consumer protection experts. Regulators previously suspended 39 retrofit companies from installing insulation under the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) schemes in January 2025, after their work led to outbreaks of mould and damp in customers’ homes.
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said "The potential scale of non-compliant solid wall insulation installed under ECO4 and GBIS points to a systemic failure with these schemes. An overhaul of the retrofit system and the consumer protection landscape is urgently required. This is being brought forward as part of the government's Warm Homes Plan in mid-late 2025."
