This Wednesday’s Budget sends an important signal about the UK’s priorities for warm homes, energy security and carbon reduction — but it must now be backed by practical delivery.

At the Stove Industry Association, we welcome the continued focus on supporting households to improve the energy efficiency and resilience of their homes. As winters become increasingly unpredictable and pressure on the electricity grid grows, it’s vital that government policy recognises the role of a balanced, multi-technology approach.

Modern Ecodesign wood burning stoves form part of that balanced mix. They help provide affordable, renewable and low-carbon heat, reduce pressure on peak electricity demand, and offer households genuine energy security — particularly in rural and off-grid areas where alternatives can be limited.

We also note the Budget’s broader commitments to decarbonisation and the transition to renewables. To make the most of these ambitions, government should ensure that policy frameworks and future funding programmes:

🔥 Support resilient home heating by recognising the contribution that modern, efficient stoves make to affordable warmth, consumer choice and household energy security.
🔥 Incentivise low-carbon technologies across all housing types, including those where electrification alone is not feasible.
🔥 Continue improving air quality by helping households upgrade from open fires and older stoves to today’s Ecodesign compliant models.
🔥 Back British businesses and skills, ensuring the stove industry’s UK-wide supply chain remains strong and future-focused.

Erica Malkin, Executive Director of the SIA, commented: “The SIA stands ready to work with government as these Budget commitments take shape. With the right policy support, we can help more households stay warm, further reduce domestic combustion emissions and transition to a renewable, resilient future.”