Efficiency failures due to “lack of consistent policymaking”
The institution argues that the failure of successive governments to develop a long-term plan for energy efficiency, along with neglecting it as a national infrastructure priority, has led to a lack of progress, in a submission to the Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC).
Varying policies for energy efficiency across commercial, public, domestic and non-domestic buildings, as well as implementation differences due to location, scale and form, have been cited as an issue by CIBSE, with the institution noting that a number of policies require loans and funding based on local demographics, which, coupled with “under-resourcing of schemes and patchy support,” make energy efficiency less attractive.
CIBSE’s submission to the ECCC follows the committee’s own report, ‘Home efficiency and demand reduction’, which claims that energy efficiency should be a key part of the Government’s energy policy and that a stable long-term framework should be established to provide a stable landscape for consumers and investors.
The ECCC’s report also states that improving home energy efficiency is a “win win” for households and the UK as a whole, while also enhancing the UK’s energy security, cutting carbon emissions from our building stock, and reducing costs.
Sara Kassam, Head of Sustainability at CIBSE, believes the firm’s report represents further recognition that energy efficiency should be a major pillar in the Government’s future strategy for energy in the UK.
“In their current form, national energy policies are hampering efforts to make buildings more efficient. By giving energy efficiency the national attention and funding that it deserves, we can tackle the UK’s energy trilemma of reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy security and ensuring that energy is affordable and accessible,” she said.
Angus MacNeil MP, Chair of the ECCC, believes that investing in warmer and more energy efficient homes and will mean lower energy bills and warmer houses that are more comfortable to live in.
"As a country we can increase our energy security, cut the UK’s contribution to climate change and reduce costs by not unnecessarily generating more energy than we need," he said.
"We need to ensure all new houses are super insulated and fit for the future by reintroducing a zero carbon homes policy, especially as many building companies are prepared to deliver it, but it is the improvements we make to Britain’s existing housing stock that will make the most difference. Because many of our homes were built before the Second World War, Britain has some of the most inefficient and heat-leaking housing in the world.
"Extra incentives need to be considered, as the Government's previous pay-as-you-save efficiency scheme – the Green Deal – failed to entice enough people to insulate their homes. Stamp duty and council tax discounts could encourage more households to make energy efficiency improvements.
"The Government must push ahead with driving demand for energy efficiency but the impact of introducing these sorts of incentives must first be properly assessed."
