Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency - We all understand the need for action, the products to realise energy savings are commonplace, we have had years of experience installing it, there are objectives in the Clean Growth Strategy to promote it and we have been banging on about it for what feels like forever. So what is stopping us getting on with it? Like many things, it’s down to money and political will. The latter is vital of course but hasn’t that argument been won already?

The BEIS select committee recently concluded that the government needs to change approach in order to meet carbon budget targets, that ECO requires far more funding and, amongst other things, that the improvement of the housing stock to be seen as a national infrastructure priority.

The APSE Energy view of how local authorities should address energy efficiency is a simple one. All councils have invested in energy efficiency to some degree either across their own estate or in terms of helping local residents or businesses. It is easy to say that we simply need to do more of it but there are some factors which can be used to ramp up activity. ECO3 is available – there are funds to be applied for and the energy companies must comply. It means putting the work in and fostering good relations with the energy companies but this can result in benefits in terms of ECO3 outcomes and future schemes. Salix funding is another custom made option.

A number of councils found themselves with new councillors in May many of whom have sustainability and the climate change agenda at the forefront of their thoughts. This is a resource to tap into if possible.

The link to climate emergency declarations is obvious and putting energy efficiency as a priority within the related action plan will ensure the message hits home. These declarations are a big deal – or they should be. We realise that not every councillor or officer understands the scale of effort nor the duration of work needed to meet targets set in these declarations but they will have an ongoing impact on all services in local authorities for many years and energy efficiency must be built into them.

We at APSE Energy have long talked about the importance of assets. All assets need to be looked after of course and that means ensuring they are energy efficient so a plan to ensure this is the case across the estate is (or should be) one element of the local authority’s asset management plan. 

Turning to how the local authority can work to reduce fuel poverty, APSE Energy along with YES Energy Services has produced an easy guide for local authorities to get the most from ECO3 which will be sent free to APSE Energy members within the next fortnight and can be purchased by others.

National policies may be lacking but that doesn’t stop local authorities from taking a lead locally or designing projects and priorities ready for an emerging policy from Government. So whether it is your own estate or working with citizens or businesses we can’t afford to forget about energy efficiency.