The Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University have just put out a new report calling for new laws to increase energy efficiency standards in all of the UK’s 26 million homes and 2 million business properties. Implementing these recommendations would mean that energy use in all buildings in the UK result in zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The report, Achieving Zero by Dr Brenda Boardman, sets out not only how this is necessary to reduce the UK's CO2 emissions but also provides a roadmap to how it can be implemented and the many benefits it will provide. Beyond meeting emissions targets, improving the energy performance of buildings increases our energy security, reduces our exposure to rising and volatile fuel prices, reduces energy bills which helps to tackle fuel poverty, creates jobs, reduces the squeeze on living standards and will make our buildings better places to live and work.
A key component of the report builds on current initiatives such as the Green Deal, energy performance certificates and energy display certificates, by describing a method of creating a financial incentive to improve efficiency. Through the introduction of mandatory minimum standards, more efficient homes and business properties would be more valuable than less efficient ones.
Our Chief Scientist Doug Parr commented, "This report makes the simple case that we need a proper plan as doing nothing is not an option. The savings that could be made by the government by implementing the recommendations in the report are staggering. The energy that could be saved is nearly 500 times larger than energy used to run London Underground system or 10,000 times greater than the energy used each year to keep MPs and Lords warm and well-lit in Parliament."
You can download the full report and the executive summary from the Environmental Change Institute website.
