ECA Director's voice on UK energy policy
The UK's energy policy is driven by fashion and the glamorous wind and solar power options win a higher profile than the less showy but more practical energy efficiency option, according to Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) director David Pollock.

Pollock commends the government's commitment to renewable energy, but believes that energy efficiency is in many cases more practical.

"Solar power attractions are limited by the fact that Britain does not have the sunniest of skies. Burning waste for energy is suspect due to possible carcinogenic smoke; and there is little potential in the crowded UK for the construction of hydropower dams. In their place wind farms are now being heralded as this season's best new thing."

There are strong arguments for promotion of energy efficiency. The ECA estimates that if all UK homes had cavity wall insulation, then CO2 emissions could be cut by nine million tonnes.

Pollock comments: "This is simply not sexy compared to a forest of gleaming white windmills turning in the breeze."

Source

Building Sustainable Design