NatWest Group has launched the Sustainable Homes and Buildings Coalition, with British Gas, Worcester Bosch, and Shelter, to improve UK buildings energy efficiency, and to address the key barriers to meeting net-zero in the UK buildings environment. Citizens Advice will act in an advisory capacity to the Coalition on the needs of, and challenges faced by consumers in the transition.

The Coalition aims to raise awareness about what a move towards a net-zero economy means for building owners and tenants/occupiers; understand the choices they have to decarbonise their homes and commercial buildings and provide practical advice to building owners and tenants/occupiers about how to do this.

Recent research conducted by NatWest Group and IHS Markit shows that, of the factors surveyed, consumers placed EPC rating as the third least important factor they considered when they last bought a home and more than a quarter of homeowners had no plans to make environmental sustainability improvements to their home over the next ten years. Respondents cited cost as the greatest barrier to them making such improvements.

Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest Group, said: “Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and for NatWest Group it is central to our purpose-led strategy. By supporting the creation of more sustainable homes, communities, and workplaces we can help people, families, and businesses to thrive. Unless and until we deal with the carbon contribution of the buildings we live, work, and play in, net-zero will remain a pipedream. And this can only be done by and not to people. We will play our part in providing a voice, a platform and a helping hand to SMEs and individuals with big ideas to improve their lives and livelihoods.”

In parallel to this initiative, NatWest Group and its partners will work with the Government to create the conditions to accelerate meaningful change in the buildings sector to define the direction on the policy framework to drive decarbonisation in the building sector, akin to those seen in the motor industry.

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