Consultation Documents issued by Government
Thursday, 12 Feb 09
Today the government has launched three consultations which follow on from the Prime Minister’s Home Energy Saving Programme announcement in September:
Heat and Energy Saving Strategy (HESS) Consultation
This jointly published document by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) sets out the Government's vision to 2020 and beyond.
It seeks views on a range of policies which could help to decarbonise the way we heat our homes and businesses, helping us to reduce the UK's CO2 emissions and to contribute to the target of obtaining 20% of all EU energy from renewables by 2020.
It has four main objectives:
- to help more people in these difficult economic times, and over the long term, to reduce their energy bills by using less energy;
- to reduce the UK’s emissions and increase our use of renewable energy in line with the demands of our carbon budgets, our renewables target and our ultimate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050;
- to help us to maintain secure, diverse energy supplies; and
- to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by the shift to a low carbon economy in the UK and in the rest of the world, helping us during the current economic downturn and over the long term
The deadline for responses is Friday 8 May 2009.
For more details visit: http://www.decc.gov.uk/consultations/hes.html
The Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) Consultation
The broad policy proposals for the design of the programme include:
- placing an obligation on energy suppliers and electricity generators to meet a CO2 reduction target by providing energy efficiency measures to domestic consumers;
- requiring that this obligation is met by providing these measures to households in areas with high levels of low incomes;
- to offer these measures as a package to homes, to deliver a ‘whole house approach’ – so that homes can receive all the major energy efficiency measures they need, which could also include district heating schemes;
- specifying that only certain measures are eligible to count towards the CO2 targets, focusing on those measures which can make a substantial difference to a household emissions and fuel bills.
Responses must be submitted by 8 May 2009.
For more information visit: http://www.decc.gov.uk/consultations/cesp.html
20% increase to the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT)
In amending the Order, the Government proposes to:
- increase the overall lifetime carbon saving target on household energy suppliers by 20 per cent;
- provide new incentives to encourage the installation of loft insulation;
- encourage energy suppliers to promote Real Time Energy Display devices and provide face to face energy-related advice by giving these measures a pre-determined carbon score;
- allow suppliers to meet a greater percentage of their targets through innovative measures.
Responses to this consultation must be submitted by 14 April 2009.
For more information visit: http://www.decc.gov.uk/consultations/cert.html
To download a copy of the press release click here: http://www.whatstheidea.org.uk/docs/Consultations-press-release.doc
Jim Gillespie, chairman of IDEA said "These are important documents which will shape the way the industry evolves in future. I therefore urge you to read all three consultation documents carefully and respond accordingly; either on our members forum or directly to CLG/Government using the contact details therein".
