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Government responds to assessment of Westminster energy wastage
Whitehall has offered its reaction to a recent episode of ITV’s Tonight programme, which highlighted the energy being wasted by government departments in Westminster.
A study conducted for an episode of ‘Tonight’ entitled ‘Money to Burn’ demonstrated the benefits of better insulation and highlighted the inefficiencies of older buildings.
The program used thermal imaging experts, ERIKS, who trained their highly advanced Flir thermal imaging cameras on government buildings in Westminster as well as domestic houses.
You can see the images generated here.
The government has responded to the findings by outlining the extensive measures they take to reduce energy loss, demonstrating exactly how much difference proper insulation makes.
Responding to the findings, which demonstrated how much energy was ‘leaking’ from the old buildings, the government issued the following statement.
“Number 10 and 11 Downing Street are both Grade 1 Listed Buildings and all work to them must be approved by English Heritage and Westminster City Council. This can make it challenging to match the energy efficiency standards of new buildings but we believe all homes and businesses can save energy, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.
“Within No 10 we have reduced the energy we use by installing modern condensing boilers and our primary heat source is a district heating scheme which uses efficient combined heat and power. We are introducing energy-saving intelligent lighting in the building and all light bulbs are already energy efficient.
“In addition we choose the most efficient electrical equipment and routinely ensure that all non-essential lights and equipment are switched off outside office hours. The energy saving measures currently being carried out are expected to deliver an anticipated CO2 saving in excess of 15,000kg per year. Government set stretching targets to reduce emissions across Whitehall departments by 12.5 per cent by 2010/11 (on 1999 baselines), and we are on track to exceed this and expect to reduce them by 17 per cent by 2010/11.
“In the PBR we also committed to a 10 per cent saving in public sector energy spend by 2012-13, delivering savings of up to £300 million per year. Downing Street continuously seeks new ways to reduce its energy consumption and the office is keen to play its part in tackling dangerous climate change. We will continue to look to reduce our carbon footprint and increase our overall sustainability.
“DECC inherited a grade 2 listed heritage building as its HQ, making it difficult to match the energy efficiency standards of new buildings. However, we have made major changes which have improved the DEC rating of 3 Whitehall Place from a ‘G’ to an ‘F’ despite a rise in occupancy and longer hours of operation due to refurbishment. Between January 2009 and January 2010 we used 66 per cent less gas and 19 per cent less electricity and our emissions have been reduced by 35 per cent compared to last year. We will continue to look for opportunities to reduce our carbon emissions and increase our overall sustainability and are working closely with the Carbon Trust to achieve this.
“The Bank of England tries to minimise its impact through better use of its premises, using increasingly power-efficient equipment. Ten percent of the electricity used in the Bank’s premises is from renewable (green) sources. The building was constructed in the 1930s and has substantial heating and cooling challenges for modern occupation, including high electricity consumption by energy-intensive information technology equipment. Although the Bank’s Head Office building is accredited under the Carbon Trust’s Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme, in 2008 the building received a Display Energy Certificate rating in Band G.”
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