14 May 2024
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, has decided to put back the ban on replacement fossil fuel boilers in Jersey in order to prioritise work to update the building bye-laws which legislate the Island’s building standards.
Under the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, increased energy efficiency and carbon emission standards
are to be introduced following a review of the existing bye-laws and their technical guidance. That
review is about to begin and will involve consultation with key stakeholders later in the year.
The ban on replacing existing boilers with a new fossil fuel heating system had been due to begin
in 2026. No new date has yet been set.
Deputy Steve Luce said: “It makes total sense to begin the work on the building bye-laws and
technical guidance first, to consider exactly what standards will be required to help us meet our net
zero ambitions.
“Putting back the ban on replacement fossil fuel boilers isn’t a cancellation of the policy, but is a
signal that we’re reprioritising some of this work to make sure it’s done in the right order, at the
right time.
“The current bye-laws are designed to promote the use of low-carbon heating systems in new
buildings and I’m sure it won’t be long before the market is ready to embrace this is in existing
buildings as well.
“I remain committed to supporting Islanders with the move towards greener ways of heating their
homes, and the Government-run Low Carbon Heating Incentive continues to be successful, having
so far helped around 275 local households.”
The Low Carbon Heating Incentive provides up to £5,000 match funding to help Islanders with the
cost of switching away from fossil fuel heating systems in their homes. Low-income households can
apply for up to £10,000 without the need to match fund.
As part of the reprioritisation, and in response to feedback from industry, the Minister is also today
confirming that he will delay the implementation of the legislation which would make Energy
Performance Certificates (EPC) mandatory at the point of a home being sold or a new tenancy. EPCs
tell you how energy efficient a building is, as well as highlighting the building’s emissions, using
information about how it is built and heated.
The Minister has committed to consulting with interested parties on the technical and practical
aspects of EPCs in 2024 to make sure the best possible solution for the Island can be found and
that it aligns with the updated building bye-laws. The legislation on EPCs will now not be brought
forward in this term of Government. Islanders can, though, still apply for a subsidy towards a Home
Energy Audit and an EPC.
For more information on the available schemes visit www.gov.je/lowcarbonheat and
www.gov.je/energyaudit.
gov.je