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Energy efficiency ?revolution? announced by Government

The Government has released its strategy to improve energy efficiency in the UK, which includes plans to save 22 power stations worth of energy by 2020.

Plans include a £39m investment into five “End Use Energy Demand Centres”, which will address energy usage in households and businesses using funding from the Research Councils UK and project partners involved in the scheme.

A “revolution” was heralded as the Government addressed obstacles blocking energy efficiency that will be dealt with to boost job creation and economic growth.

Success in the energy efficiency sector was highlighted by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) after it had sales worth £17.6bn in 2010/11 alone, with growth of 4% each year since 2007, and the Government anticipated a further rise in growth in the next few years.

Markets in their early, developing stages were identified as a significant obstacle to energy efficiency, along with a lack of information, poorly placed financial incentives, as well as a general undervaluing of reforms.

The Energy Efficiency Strategy, published on Monday, outlined a trial that will go ahead with retailer,John Lewis, to label products with efficiency rankings, alongside changes to the way energy is used in the housing, transport and manufacturing sectors in particular.

The lifetime of household appliances will be indicated in John Lewis stores, after a similar scheme was successful in Norway.

The Government also outlined plans to explore finance options for businesses and organisations in the public sector hope to cut their energy use.

A partnership with North West firm ENWORKS will investigate the best ways to provide funding and upgrade commercial and manufacturing equipment within businesses.

The strategy outlined the potential energy efficiency has to boost growth and save money for businesses.

Greg Barker, the Energy and Climate Change Minister, commented: “Using energy more wisely is absolutely vital in a world of increased pressure on resources and rising prices.

“Not only can energy efficiency help save money on bills and cut emissions, it can support green jobs, innovation and enterprise.

“This is Britain’s first comprehensive Energy Efficiency Strategy and sets out the action we are taking now, as well as what we will do in the future to ensure the UK continues to be a global leader in reducing energy use.”

Dr Matthew Brown, CBI Head of Energy and Climate Change policy, said:“Improving energy efficiency could deliver real benefits to the economy. Not only could it create new jobs, but it could also cut emissions and deliver significant savings to firms and consumers.

“The current policy landscape is too complex, particularly for companies, so this should mark the start of a more strategic approach to business energy efficiency by the Government.”

The DECC has further plans to publish a series of consultations that will provide guidelines for the implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, which will be completed by Spring 2014.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .