Citizens Advice is calling on the government to make sure consumer protections catch up with the technology.
Heat pump installations need to rise by 2200% to meet the net zero target, according to research from the charity, Citizens Advice.
As a result, Citizens Advice is calling on the government to make sure consumer protections catch up with the technology.
Heat pump, insulation or micro-generation installers currently only have to join a mandatory scheme if government funding is involved.
As well as this, solid wall insulation would need to rise from just 8,000 installed in 2020, to 250,000 in the next four years, an increase of 3025%.
There are currently 12 different accreditation schemes covering heat pumps, solar panels, insulation or micro-generation, leaving consumers unsure if they are choosing high quality providers and installers.
To support the challenge of retrofitting 29 million homes, Citizens Advice is calling for a single accreditation and inspection scheme for anyone installing green home technologies.
This comes after the government offered a £5,000 grant for homeowners to replace gas boilers with low-carbon heat pumps across England and Wales.
Gillian Cooper, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: “If the government wants to hit its net zero by 2050 target it’s going to need to make it as easy as possible for people to make changes to their homes.
"Right now it’s confusing and complex with people not knowing where to start finding a decent installer.
“Both the Heat and Buildings Strategy and Net Zero Strategy show clear ambition, but achieving current targets won’t be simple.
"Strong consumer protections are still needed to help people navigate the difficult process of making green home improvements.
“People need to know how to find a trustworthy installer and that they’ll be protected if things go wrong.
"Establishing a single mandatory scheme is a key way in which the government can support the public to meet this once-in-a-generation challenge.”
