The National Insulation Association (NIA), as part of a coalition of 20 organisations, is calling on government to commit to a major retrofitting programme of 1m homes by 2020 as a national infrastructure priority.

Neil Marshall, chief executive of the NIA, explained: “We still have over 7m homes that have inadequate loft insulation, over 5m homes that require cavity wall insulation (CWI) and almost 8million homes that need solid wall insulation (SWI).

“We should be strengthening our energy efficiency programmes and accelerating the pace of delivery. We require a long-term structured plan to achieve this and transform the nation’s housing stock.

“The benefits to consumers are clear: by installing SWI, savings of up to £460 per year can be made on fuel bills and £250 per year from CWI. Loft insulation can also save up to £250 per year and draught-proofing windows and doors can save between £35 and £50 per year and, when installed with other measures, will greatly increase the comfort in a home.”

On behalf of the 20 organisations, Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, added: “There’s a gaping hole at the heart of the government’s plan for infrastructure, and that gaping hole is the energy efficiency of our aging housing stock. Government has so far failed to recognise the huge opportunities it presents.

“But it’s not too late. Making home energy efficiency a national infrastructure priority – and offering it significant support alongside transport, energy generation or communications projects – would not only cut households’ rocketing energy bills and help tackle climate change, but also create thousands of new jobs and strengthen the UK’s energy security. Government spends £45bn a year on capital infrastructure investment – our bricks and mortar deserve to be included.”