A report from the British Sustainable Development Commission identifies existing houses as the primary target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report points out that in fifty years 75% of housing will consist of homes already built. Making these existing homes as efficient as possible is an important component of arresting climate change.
"You cannot possibly deliver a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by doing nothing to the existing housing stock," said Professor Anne Power, a member of the SDC and one of the report’s authors.