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Prince William, who has advocated for finding ways to tackle climate change, has irritated the public after a recent probe revealed disturbing information about his private estate.
The Prince of Wales, who is now in Cape Town, South Africa, on a four-day visit to receive his Earthshot Prize Award, has come under fire for failing to address his own carbon footprint in his campaigning.
One of the results of the investigation by The Mirror and Channel 4's Dispatches found that many of the rental houses on the Duchy of Cornwall had the lowest energy efficiency ratings, posing a risk not just to the environment but also to renters.
MP Barry Gardiner said it was "very strange" that William's duchy, which was formerly controlled by his father, King Charles, a lifetime environmental supporter, had not yet adopted "best practices," much alone the legal minimum duty.
"Failing properties cause real health problems for those who have to live in them and take an enormous financial toll on families trying to heat a home that is leaking energy," according to Gardiner.
Meanwhile, Andrew Parkin, technical director of an energy company, told The Mirror that 20% of the UK's carbon emissions come from heating our housing stock," and many of the properties on the duchy are "off-grid," which would be using "the worst emitting heating sources such as coal and wood fires, or older oil central heating systems."
He noted that such situations "make it more difficult to decarbonize," but it is still "feasible" to enhance the property, noting it is a "vital" step in the current context.
If Prince William follows the recommendations of energy assessors who visited the duchy, carbon emissions might be cut by "69%".
Meanwhile, a Duchy of Cornwall representative stated, "Environmental sustainability and supporting our tenants and communities are at the heart of all our decision-making."
The representative further stated that since becoming Duke of Cornwall in September 2022, William has been "committed to an expansive transformation of the Duchy." This includes a considerable investment to get the estate to net zero by the end of 2032."
According to the EU Energy Label, F and G are the least efficient categories. With additional classifications (such as A+, A++, and A+++) announced in 2021, Duchy of Cornwall renters continue to use resources with "F" and "G" ratings.
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