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The UK's domestic building stock is responsible for around a quarter of all carbon emissions in the UK. Current efforts to reduce the contribution made by people's homes to climate change have focused on new-build housing. Even with the increased rates of new build that the Government is seeking, homes built after 2007 are unlikely to account for more than a third of the total housing stock by 2050. Homes built recently tend to have higher standards of energy efficiency but a significant proportion of those houses which will still be homes in 2050 were constructed to lower, sometimes much lower, standards. The existing stock therefore accounts for the great majority of carbon emissions from dwellings both in terms of overall numbers and energy efficiency.

The Committee has resolved to conduct an inquiry to examine the contribution which the existing housing stock makes to UK carbon emissions and the means which might be used to increase the resource efficiency of existing homes. It will be considering the extent to which current measures to adapt existing housing, whether owner occupied, rented privately or social, have been successful and how improvements might be achieved. Particular topics which will be considered within this context include:

? The significance of existing housing compared to new build and the different levels of performance each display

? The respective roles of residents, homeowners, landlords, local government, central government and the energy industry in promoting and delivering greater energy efficiency

? Energy performance certificates

? The provision of information for households and prospective house buyers, including energy performance certificates

? Government efforts to reduce carbon emissions from existing housing stock whether in private or public ownership and other related programmes including Decent Homes

? The technologies available to reduce emissions and the Government's role in facilitating relevant further technological development

? The costs associated with reducing carbon emissions from existing housing, who should meet those costs and particularly, in respect of low-income households, interaction between carbon emission reductions and the Government's ambitions to reduce poverty

? The specific challenges which may arise in relation to housing of special architectural or historical interest

The inquiry will focus on functions which are integral or semi-integral to housing fabric such as heating and lighting. The Committee will not examine the environmental performance of individual household appliances.

The Select Committee is open to contributions from the public, if you would like to add your two-pennies' worth you can do so at clgcom@parliament.uk by the 26th September.