1 September 2026 Kemi Badenoch’s decision to abandon cross-party consensus on climate change and the need to meet net zero targets may win her plaudits from some right-wing commentators, but…
Carol Hitchcock1st September 2026
1 June 2026 Does the rapid growth of data centres in the UK and around the world represent a threat to carbon emission targets? Andrew Warren considers their predicted increase…
Carol Hitchcock1st June 2026
1 May 2026 A new book by Westminster lobbyist, energy campaigner and protester Ron Bailey highlights some of the deceit and incompetence within government and what more the public can…
Carol Hitchcock1st May 2026
1 April 2026 A new report suggests that there is a big gap between the energy performance of manufacturers around the world, with the potential for some of the least…
Carol Hitchcock1st April 2026
1 March 2026 With no current programmes in place to address the issue of fuel poverty, it seems that the government is looking to claim progress by manipulating figures rather…
Carol Hitchcock1st March 2026
1 February 2026 Despite promises to the contrary, the government continues to delay raising EPC standards for non-residential buildings. Andrew Warren shares his frustrations about the cost of inaction and…
Carol Hitchcock1st February 2026
1 January 2026 Andrew Warren considers the introduction of new ‘green tariff’ rules set to impact on any high-carbon goods entering into the EU and the need for the UK…
Carol Hitchcock1st January 2026
1 November 2025 Insufficient vetting and monitoring have enabled some unscrupulous operators to take advantage of the government-funded home insulation upgrade schemes, but Andrew Warren argues that these failings could…
Carol Hitchcock1st November 2025
1 October 2025 Following his appalling United Nations speech last month, everybody knows that President Trump is a climate change denier. Andrew Warren questions the motives behind such scepticism. The…
Carol Hitchcock1st October 2025
1 September 2025 This summer’s heatwaves have triggered a significant increase in demand for air conditioning units, but Andrew Warren argues that there could be more healthy and less environmentally…
Carol Hitchcock1st September 2025
1 July 2025 The government recently pledged to reduce levies for energy-intensive businesses, but Andrew Warren questions why they have not been given any incentive to actually reduce the energy…
Carol Hitchcock15th July 2025
1 June 2025 Why have Display Energy Certificates started to disappear from public view? Are they no longer considered of value? Andrew Warren argues that it’s time the government made…
Carol Hitchcock1st June 2025
1 May 2025 The world has not only lost the leader of the Catholic faith, but also a vocal proponent of energy conservation. Andrew Warren mourns the passing of an…
Carol Hitchcock1st May 2025
1 April 2025 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is on record as backing the need for net zero, so why is she now back-tracking on previous commitments? asks Andrew Warren. Timing…
Carol Hitchcock1st April 2025
1 March 2025 Recent reports have concluded that the transition to cleaner energy is generating jobs and contributing to economic growth. So why would anyone question the government’s commitment to…
Carol Hitchcock1st March 2025
1 February 2025 President Trump has wasted no time in his second term to unravel appliance efficiency standards and take up the cause of the fossil fuel industry. Andrew Warren…
Carol Hitchcock1st February 2025
1 January 2025 Following the passing of former US President Jimmy Carter at the end of last year, Andrew Warren looks back on his legacy and his forward thinking views…
Carol Hitchcock1st January 2025
1 December 2024 The latest government proposals focus on the production of clean energy, but why is there no mention of what more can be done to reduce the amount…
Carol Hitchcock1st December 2024
1 October 2024 There has been much talk of the massive amount of energy likely to be used by data centres and artificial intelligence, but could there be another side…
Carol Hitchcock1st October 2024
1 September 2024 Andrew Warren takes a look at a new report from the IEA which highlights the need for the UK to address the energy efficiency of existing buildings.…
Carol Hitchcock1st September 2024
Is the new government prepared to rise to the challenge of investing in energy efficiency measures and reducing the country’s energy use? asks Andrew Warren. The UK has a new…
Carol Hitchcock1st July 2024
1 July 2024 Is the new government prepared to rise to the challenge of investing in energy efficiency measures and reducing the country’s energy use? asks Andrew Warren. The UK…
Carol Hitchcock1st July 2024
A reduction in the country’s energy consumption has been a cornerstone of previous administrations, so why does the current Secretary of State choose to ignore the potential for further savings?…
Carol Hitchcock1st June 2024
Andrew Warren looks at what the European Citizens’ panel has to say about the need to invest in energy efficiency measures and wonders how a similar body could help to…
Carol Hitchcock1st May 2024
Investing in insulation to stop energy leaking out of the top of existing buildings has to be one of the easiest ways to save on energy, so why can’t the…
Carol Hitchcock1st April 2024
Andrew Warren looks at the evolution of the international Energy Charter Treaty and why the UK government has decided to withdraw from its obligations. Later this month, the UK will…
Carol Hitchcock1st March 2024
When Prime Minister, Lord Cameron pledged to make Britain the most energy-efficient nation in Europe. Rishi Sunak should heed his words. Britain will become the “most energy efficient nation in…
Carol Hitchcock2nd February 2024
A new government department designed to deliver net zero seems to be ignoring the strategic role energy efficiency could and should play The cheapest and most environmentally friendly energy is…
Mark Thrower6th December 2023
In California, providing full transparency on Scope 3 emissions will now become mandatory for larger companies, says Andrew Warren. Does this provide an example for the UK? Yet again, California…
Mark Thrower11th October 2023
The latest progress report from the Climate Change Committee makes grim reading on progress towards net zero. Government inertia and reliance on old ways of thinking are to blame Hopes…
Mark Thrower27th July 2023
Domestic energy saving is not just about heating and insulation. Perhaps now is the time for an initiative to provide LED lighting to those most likely to be in fuel…
Mark Thrower14th June 2023
As the European Union’s carbon price tops €100 for the first time the UK will be forced to follow the example of the EU with its own tighter emissions rules,…
Mark Thrower22nd March 2023
It costs more to run a heat pump than the best condensing boilers. As long as EPCs recommend the most cost-effective method of energy efficiency upgrades then installations will remain…
Mark Thrower19th January 2023
The proliferation of smart meters should be a boon for domestic energy efficiency. But suppliers are shirking their responsibilities when your VDU stops working Smart meters have now been installed…
Mark Thrower20th December 2022
A ‘carbon border adjustment mechanism’ on imported goods from polluting factories overseas could help the address the issue of carbon leakage Cheap imports of steel, cement and other energy…
Mark Thrower30th June 2022
Energy efficiency is very much a personal choice, according to the Government’s energy security strategy. But shouldn’t it take a lead when there is a need for all of us…
Mark Thrower18th May 2022
Public acceptance of measures to transition to cleaner heating must form part of government proposals. Those property owners with off-grid heating are in the front line Across Great Britain, all…
Mark Thrower8th February 2022
So the Heat and Buildings strategy has finally seen the light of day. But energy efficiency has been left in the dark as the spotlight falls on the supply of…
Mark Thrower11th January 2022
The National Audit Office’s damning report of the Green Homes Grant debacle should act as a guide for future Government assistance for domestic energy efficiency The National Audit Office…
Mark Thrower20th October 2021
The EU’s Fit for 55 programme will challenge politicians to ensure that large sections of the European population are not disadvantaged. The UK must follow their lead This autumn the…
Mark Thrower17th September 2021
With an urgent need to upgrade our housing stock a plan to encompass consumer wishes, grants to alleviate fuel poverty and installer training It is universally acknowledged that Britain needs…
Mark Thrower27th July 2021
A bold initiative is intended to meet head on the inherent trading incompatibility caused by unpriced emissions from companies outside Europe This summer the European Commission is set to…
Mark Thrower28th May 2021
A report from the National Audit Office acknowledges the benefits of taxation on organisations but questions what specific effects they achieve The National Audit(NAO)has produced a fascinating report. Blandly…
Mark Thrower10th May 2021
Environmental Justice. That is one key policy that US President Joe Biden has adopted. He has set up a large high-powered team in his administration the sole objective of which…
Mark Thrower15th March 2021
Although the UK has set its own emissions trading scheme it is likely that, as a result of Brexit trading advantage agreements, the difference from the European scheme will be…
Mark Thrower23rd February 2021
Jabs and jobs. These are likely to be 2021’s main political issues. Everyone involved with energy efficiency will be delighted with a roll-out of the first, as COVID 19 undoubtedly…
Mark Thrower20th January 2021
Approaching half the energy the UK consumes each year is used in buildings. Two-thirds of that consumption happens in our homes. But the latest official statistics underscore the scale of…
Mark Thrower5th January 2021
The biggest government-funded drive to improve the energy efficiency of English homes in thirty years gets underway this month. A measure of its priority is that, just before it launched,…
Mark Thrower1st October 2020
A new normal will emerge from the coronavirus crisis. There is an opportunity to be grasped to put energy efficiency at the heart of sustainable growth Will the world after…
Red Box29th June 2020
cFor many organisations it was merely a box-ticking exercise. So what more needs to be done to make ESOS the game changer many hoped it could be? When the Energy…
Red Box29th April 2020
The power sector has been decarbonising rapidly this century. But this is due more to energy efficiency than a switch to alternative supply sources Breathless headlines greeted the welcome news…
Red Box29th March 2020
There’s overwhelming public acknowledgement that action has to be taken on climate change. But only a minority want to make changes to our lifestyle No argument. The overwhelming majority of…
Red Box29th February 2020
Global alarm calls are putting the pressure on our politicians to deliver on energy-saving measures. For the first time in many years there is cause for optimism Let me start…
Red Box29th January 2020
Costing the country almost £2bn a year, the Winter Fuel Payment has for 22 years provided the ultimate in quantitative easing, hiding the paucity of energy efficiency spending The Winter…
Red Box29th November 2019
Since the Brexit referendum, the UK looked set to align itself to European energy standards. But now there are worrying signs that the Government may move away from that policy…
Red Box29th October 2019
When we leave the EU: ETS, perhaps as early as October 31, a new tax is being proposed that could make a mockery of the UK’s claim to be a…
Red Box29th September 2019
