Enviromnental
The Environment and Government Policy
Due to agreements and commitments arising from the Kyoto Protocol, government bodies at a European, national and local level have set targets to reduce industrial and domestic CO2 emissions.
Domestic energy usage and the energy efficiency of dwellings are subject to a number of initiatives from the European Union (through various directives such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Eco-design of Products Directive and the Boiler Efficiency Directive).
The UK and other EU member states have introduced legislation and other initiatives in response to these directives. The UK government’s Energy White Paper (‘Our energy future – creating a low carbon economy’) was published in 2003 and sets out the long-term strategic vision for energy policy.
The government has set a target of reducing the UK’s CO2 emissions by at least 60% from their 1990 levels by 2050 (and is considering raising that target to 80%). This will become a statutory duty under the Climate Change Review. In addition the draft Climate Change Bill (which completed the committee stage in the House of Lords in February 2008) sets an interim target of reducing emissions by between 26% and 32% by 2020.
Time period |
Target reduction in CO2 emissions |
1990-2020 |
26%-32% |
1990-2050 |
At least 60% |
To help individuals to meet the targets on energy saving and efficiency, the UK government has launched a number of initiatives. These take the form of the establishment of standards and regulations, the provision of guidance and the giving of financial support to homeowners through grants.
Regulations
The key legislation introduced by the UK government relating to domestic energy efficiency takes the form of building regulations.
Regulation |
Objective |
Building Regulations Part L (England and Wales) 2006 |
Building Regulations Part L relates to the conservation of fuel and power and aims to achieve a 20% improvement in the energy efficiency of new buildings. The regulations include improved energy efficiency requirements for refurbishments and extensions of existing buildings. |
Revisions to Building Regulations Part J (Scotland) 2004 |
In 2006 changes to the regulations included a section on Energy Standards with proposals for compliance with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive that were implemented in May 2007. |
Revisions to Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 Part F |
Revisions were published in August 2006 and came into effect in late 2006. These include a requirement for higher thermal standards for buildings. |
Although the broad regulations are broadly consistent across the UK, the specific regulations and timing of introduction often vary by devolved administration (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Information on other legislation, such as the Housing Act 2004 and Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995, can be found on the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes website (www.eeph.org.uk).
In addition to building regulations, there are a number of other government policies and initiatives that have an impact on domestic energy efficiency. These include the following:
Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) / Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) is one of the principal policy mechanisms by which energy efficiency improvement measures are delivered into existing homes in Great Britain. Under EEC, energy suppliers are required to achieve targets for the promotion of energy efficiency improvements in the household sector. Subject to approval by Ofgem, suppliers are given flexibility to choose from a range of measures, typically insulation, low energy lighting or high efficiency appliances and heating systems, in order to meet their targets. Suppliers may promote measures directly to consumers or work with project partners like social housing providers, retailers or manufacturers. Measures may be delivered in different ways, for example through a third party contractor, retail outlets or mail order. EEC has been highly successful in delivering cost-effective energy efficiency improvements and has acted as a model for similar schemes in a number of countries within the EU. The third phase, which runs from 2008 – 2011, is called the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).
Expected carbon savings from the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2002-2011
|
Expected carbon savings |
EEC1 (2002-2005) |
0.3MtC |
EEC2 (2005-2008) |
0.5MtC |
CERT (2008-2011) |
1.1MtC |
Source: Ofgem
Within CERT the Government has introduced a 'flexibility option', designed to direct funding at the most expensive, hard-to-treat homes. Eligible measures would include ground source heat pumps and solid wall insulation. Yet the forecast for solid wall insulation in Defra's 'illustrative mix' model of work expected to be carried out under CERT is just 40,000 homes over 3 years to 2011.
Supplier Obligation
To ensure the momentum built up under EEC/CERT is maintained into the next decade, the government announced in the 2006 Energy Review that some form of supplier obligation would be in place until at least 2020, with an ambition level at least equal to CERT. The post 2011 obligation aims to deliver annual savings of 3-4 MtC by the end of the next decade. (Defra Action Plan).
Decent Homes
The government aims to make all council and housing association dwellings decent by 2010 i.e. warm, weatherproof and with reasonably modern facilities. The Decent Homes initiative is not designed specifically to improve energy efficiency but includes a thermal comfort criterion and so impacts on energy performance. However there are no specific drivers for solid wall insulation.
Warm Front and equivalent schemes in the devolved administrations
Warm Front provides a package of insulation and heating improvements for English homes up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 where oil central heating is recommended). It is a government funded scheme available to householders who are in receipt of certain income related and disability benefits and who own their own home or rent it from a private landlord. Equivalent schemes in the devolved administrations are the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in Wales and Warm Deal in Scotland.
It should be noted that none of these schemes currently includes solid wall insulation as eligible measures.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
EPCs were introduced in 2007 and are required on the sale or rental of buildings. They give potential buyers or tenants information on the current energy performance of a dwelling. By 2009, all buildings in the UK that are constructed, sold or rented out will have to have an Energy Performance Certificate, in accordance with the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes will form the basis for future developments of the Building Regulations in relation to carbon emissions from, and energy use in, homes and therefore offering greater regulatory certainty to developers. The code is currently a voluntary code for housing developers in England and Wales stipulating energy and water efficiency requirements and ranking of dwellings.
As well as those private developments that are being built to the code standards, all new Government funded homes built by registered social landlords, as well as those developed by English Partnerships or with direct funding from the Government’s housing growth programmes will in future comply with Level 3 of the Code.
From April 2008 at the latest, all new service housing contracted by the Ministry of Defence will meet Level 3. The Department of Health will actively encourage National Health Service organisations to adopt Code Level 3 when they commission new dwellings, and the Carbon Challenge, which is being delivered by English Partnerships on behalf CLG with the principle aim being to accelerate the housebuilding industry’s response to climate change, will incentivise the development of homes at Level 5 and 6.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP)
The LCBP is the government’s key tool for the delivery of the Micro-generation Strategy, published by the DTI in March 2006. The Micro-generation Strategy is designed to support the introduction and use of micro-generation energy sources in UK homes.
The UK-wide LCBP was launched in April 2006 and provides grants for the installation of micro-generation technologies such as Solar power generation and wind turbines.
Policies and initiatives again can vary between the devolved administrations. As before, further information on these and other initiatives can be found at www.eeph.org.uk.
Government also has an indirect influence on the environmental impact of housing through its overall housing and economic policy (the setting of interest rates, for example) and the planning policy framework.
Government departments
HM Treasury is a key government body in terms of the provision of funding or the introduction of legislation. For example:
- Landlord Energy Savings Allowance (LESA): the LESA was introduced in 2004 to provide private landlords with relief on capital expenditure for installations of loft, cavity and solid wall insulation in rented accommodation.
- Stamp duty reduction on Zero Carbon Homes - From 1 October 2007 all new homes meeting the zero carbon standard costing up to £500,000 pay no stamp duty, and zero-carbon homes costing in excess of £500,000 receive a reduction in their stamp duty bill of £15,000.
The table below shows other key UK government departments responsible for policy, regulations and other initiatives relevant to the energy efficiency of housing.
Department |
Main responsibilities |
Website |
Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) |
Formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – responsible for house building strategy and building regulations |
|
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) |
Responsible for regulation of trade and industry and for energy supply |
|
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) |
Responsible for policy on climate change, energy efficiency and fuel poverty |
|
Local government planning departments / the Planning Inspectorate |
Responsible for processing planning applications, enquiries into local development plans, etc. |
In addition to these government departments a number of not-for-profit bodies have a specific remit to promote domestic energy efficiency, notably the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes (EEPH).
For further information on political and legal background: |
