The UK government has been slammed for its lack of coherent policy on energy efficiency in a report by the House of Lords.

The inquiry by the science and technology committee, looking into the climate change strategy outlined in the government’s 2003 energy white paper, urges the government to resolve the uncertainty and confusion that are undermining its attempts to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The government has got to get a grip on our huge waste of energy if it is to limit the UK’s contribution to climate change,” said Baroness Perry of Southwark, chair of the select committee. “At the moment it simply doesn’t have a coherent policy on energy efficiency.

There are far too many departments, agencies and policies, often pulling in different directions.”

The report calls for a wide range of measures to promote and improve energy efficiency. The most far reaching is the appointment of a single energy minister with responsibility for both the energy supply industry and energy efficiency. In addition it proposes a reduction in the number of agencies in the field by the merging of the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust.

The report also says that the government could do more to develop markets for community heating and encourages its inclusion in all new build projects.

Other measures proposed in the House of Lords report

  • Give local government the tools to develop local energy efficiency projects
  • Simplify the regulatory framework for business and industry
  • Strengthen the Building Regulations and enforce them more vigorously
  • Reverse the dramatic fall in
    government funding for construction research
  • Provide fiscal incentives to encourage efficient energy use
  • Ensure the European Union energy efficiency label is not watered down
  • Engage with manufacturers to address the impact on energy use of growing markets for consumer electronics and air-conditioning

Source

Building Sustainable Design

Postscript

For a copy of the report visit www.parliament.uk/hlscience.