Improving energy efficiency is a sensible thing to do. It saves money, makes the home more comfortable and reduces carbon emissions. Even so, there are a number of important barriers to the take-up of energy efficiency measures, including upfront costs, the disruption or ‘hassle factor’, poor information and a lack of awareness or interest.
DECC has overall responsibility for improving energy efficiency in the UK but works closely with other government departments that have responsibility for specific policies.
Building regulations
The Building Regulations (specifically Part L) set the minimum energy efficiency standards that any newly constructed home must achieve. These standards are regularly tightened so that a house built today will be at least 40% more energy efficient than one built before 2002. There is an additional target for all new homes to be zero-carbon from 2016.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has led responsibility for setting the standards in the Building Regulations. See the Communities and Local Government: Building regulations webpage for full details.
Product policy and labelling
The Energy Saving Trust estimates we waste more than £900m per year by leaving appliances in stand-by mode when not in use. This is in addition to the energy wasted through appliances not being as energy efficient as they could be when in operation. There are a number of strategies to reduce this wastage including international negotiations to set tougher minimum standards for energy-using products, better labelling and information to consumers, and voluntary agreements with industry.
There are also many wider environmental issues connected with the design and manufacture of products that go beyond just energy consumption, so lead responsibility for product policy falls to Defra. You can find more detailed information about product policies on the Defra website.
Information and advice to consumers
It is essential consumers have the information they need to make properly informed decisions about the way they use energy. This means ensuring we all know the impacts our actions have on energy use and carbon emissions, whether that be through switching lights off, buying the most energy efficient appliances, or ensuring our homes are properly insulated. Consumers currently have a number of sources of information to help them make these choices including:
- mandatory A-G labels on appliances, homes and new vehicles
- the Energy Saving Trust’s 'Energy Saving Recommended' labelling for appliances
- the ACT ON CO2 advice line, offering free expert advice
- the Energy Saving Trust’s free online home energy checks
- an online carbon calculator
Social housing and the role of local authorities
Local authorities and registered social landlords work with energy suppliers under CERT to improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock. In addition, LAs are also required to invest in the energy performance of their houses through the Decent Homes programme and the requirements of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.
Decent Homes
The Decent Homes standard is a minimum standard that triggers action to improve social housing. It is a standard to which homes are improved. As constructed, the standard allows all landlords to determine, in consultation with their tenants, what works need to be completed and in what order, to ensure the standard is met.
The Decent Homes standard has four criteria:
i) it meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing (i.e. the dwelling should be free of category 1 hazards under the HHSRS);
ii) it is in a reasonable state of repair;
iii) it has reasonably modern facilities and services;
iv) it provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.
At April 2009, nearly 86% of all social homes were decent and it is expected 92% will be decent by April 2011. Some later dates for delivery have been negotiated with some social landlords for delivery, where it is necessary to achieve better value for money or higher standards of housing.
From 1 December 2008, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) took over responsibility for funding streams to help improve social housing. From 1 April 2009, it became the responsibility of the social housing regulator (the Tenant Services Authority) to ensure landlords provide a good service to their tenants, including quality accommodation.
See the Homes & Communties Agency website for more details.
Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA)
HECA requires every UK local authority with housing responsibilities to publish an energy conservation report identifying:
- practicable and cost-effective measures to significantly improve the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their area, and
- progress made in implementing the measures.
HECA has served to focus the attention of local authorities more closely on the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation and on developing an integrated approach to their housing and energy efficiency strategies.