Sustainable Energy

Sustainable energy: including energy efficiency, combined heat and power (CHP) and fuel poverty

Energy - gas and electricity - used in the home is responsible for 25% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas produced when electricity is generated or gas is burned, is a major contributor to climate change ("global warming"). Improved energy efficiency is therefore a key element of the UK Climate Change Programme, which sets out the full range of activity envisaged.

Wasting less energy saves money (significant improvements in energy efficiency can usually be achieved for low capital outlay and with a short payback period), creates jobs and helps make industry more competitive. Energy efficiency measures also improve the quality of housing, helping bring warmer, healthier homes to old and vulnerable people living in fuel poverty.

Latest news

• 2 June 2006: The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy Fourth Annual Progress Report has been published.

• 21 April 2006: Between 21-23 June 2006, Defra and the Market Transformation will be hosting the fourth international Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EDDAL'06) Conference in London. EEDAL'06 is a major international conference, bringing together world experts to present the latest policy and technical advances influencing the energy and environmental performance of domestic appliances and lighting. For more information about the conference, and to register, please visit the EEDAL'06 website.

• 5 December 2005: Summary Report from the joint Defra/HM Treasury Energy Efficiency Innovation Review is announced in the Pre-Budget Report.

• 2-3 November 2005: UK hosts an International Energy Efficiency Conference in London, in conjunction with the European Commission

• 29 June 2005: European Commission consultation on a Green Paper on energy efficiency

• 23 February 2005: Warm Front contracts from June 2005 - announcement of preferred bidder

• 30 November 2004: Fuel Poverty in England: The Government's Plan for Action published

Further details

More information on Defra's energy efficiency activity is available as follows:

• Research and analysis being used to inform Defra’s energy efficiency policies

• Action to improve energy efficiency in the UK - an overview of UK energy efficiency policy

• Our strategy for tackling Fuel Poverty, and the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme - now marketed as Warm Front - bringing warmer, healthier homes to people living in fuel poverty

• Sustainable buildings initiative: A Better Buildings Summit was jointly convened by ODPM, DTI and Defra on 21 October 2003, bringing together all key stakeholders to consider how best we can improve the sustainability of all aspects of construction and the key role that sustainable buildings will have in helping us meet our energy efficiency goals.

• The Energy Efficiency Commitment - requiring electricity and gas suppliers to achieve targets for the promotion of improvements in domestic energy efficiency.

• Local government energy efficiency activity (including the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995).

• Lighting and appliances which use less energy are good for the environment and for the consumer - see details of the Market Transformation Programme and Energy Labels for Refrigeration and Washing Appliances.
  See also Energy labelling of household air conditioners and electric ovens: Consultation on New Regulations for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (closing date 30 August 2002)

• A Climate Change Levy now applies to energy used by businesses (and the public sector). For energy-intensive industries, specific arrangements will apply where agreements have been negotiated with the Government. For more details, see the pages on the Climate Change Levy and Energy Efficiency Agreements. In parallel, an enhanced capital allowances scheme provides for firms making energy saving investments.

• Combined heat and power (CHP) - is a particularly efficient way of generating power that is actively promoted by Defra. Details of the various support and promotion mechanisms, such as the CHP Quality Assurance programme (CHPQA), and the Government's CHP Strategy to 2010 are available here.

• The Community Energy programme provides grants for community heating schemes, primarily contributing to the Defra's carbon savings and fuel poverty targets.

International initiatives

Information on the following European Commission activities and proposals is available:

• Commission consultation on a Green Paper on energy efficiency
• EC Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings
• EC Directive on Promotion of Cogeneration (Combined Heat and Power) in the Internal Energy Market
• Intelligent Energy for Europe Programme
• Proposed EC Directive on Energy End Use Efficiency and Energy Services

External links

International Energy Efficiency Conference - held 2-3 November 2005, The Barbican, London.
Under its joint presidency of the G8 and the EU, the UK, together with the European Commission, hosted an International Energy Efficiency Conference: The G8, Europe and Energy Efficient World: Acting and Learning Together. The conference explored how Europe could better work with its international partners to achieve a step change in energy efficiency, through sharing good practice and enhancing co-operation. All the proceedings, including presentations, case studies and conference conclusions have been published.

Sustainable Energy Policy Network. A key commitment in the Energy White Paper was to set up a new network across government departments, the devolved administrations, regulators and key delivery organisations.

The Energy Services Working Group - Final Report. The DTI has set up an Energy Services Working Group together with Defra and the gas and electricity regulator Ofgem to create an effective market for energy services in the domestic sector.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). An international partnership launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

The Carbon Trust and Envirowise produce an extensive range of information, aimed at professionals and advisers in industry, commerce, business transport, public sector and buildings. See also the Scottish Executive's Energy Efficiency Advice site.

Boiler Efficiency Database.

Energy Saving Trust. This Government-funded Trust runs a number of programmes to promote energy efficiency, including the 'Energy Efficiency' campaign.

Enhanced Capital Allowances. Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) enable a business to claim 100% first-year capital allowances on their spending on qualifying plant and machinery.

Contacting Defra

If you want further information regarding energy efficiency activities, then you should first consult the pages indexed above. If you then need to contact Defra, you can use the following email addresses:

• energy.efficiency@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for general queries about energy efficiency policy (note that the Department of Trade and Industry - DTI - is responsible for overall energy policy, including energy supply and renewable energy)
• energy.international@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for European and other International energy efficiency matters
• fuel.poverty@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for queries regarding fuel poverty
• heca@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for queries about energy efficiency activity by local authorities, including the Home Energy Conservation Act
• levy.agreements@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for enquiries about agreements with businesses in relation to the Climate Change Levy.
• chp@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for enquiries about Combined Heat and Power and community heating.
• consumer.products@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for queries about the Market Transformation Programme and energy labelling.