Energy efficiency remains the cheapest, cleanest and safest way of addressing the UK’s energy policy objectives.
(Government Energy White Paper 2003)
Background
Energy use in buildings accountsfor nearly half of the UK’s delivered energy consumption and over half of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Government Energy policy now recognises the role that energy saving
and renewable energy technologies will need to play in reducing
emissions of greenhouse gases and the UK’s dependence upon fossil fuels.
If such emissions are to be reduced progressively to meet rising
target levels, it is crucial that new buildings meet more stringent
energy standards as soon as possible.
The extended case studies show that it is feasible to design new
developments with minimal or net zero carbon emissions, utilising high
thermal mass, passive solar design, substantial insulation and
renewables to combined effect.
Building Regulations (Part L) are the main influence on standards of
energy performance and carbon dioxide emissions. They will be reviewed
in 2005 to obtain further savings that will assist in implementing the
EU Energy Directive
The Energy Hierarchy indicates the priorities for all developers,
with attention to design and lifestyle at the outset, in order to reduce
the need for energy.
Various methods of rating energy performance have been developed (and
adopted) to assist in measuring the impact of buildings. A key
challenge is to ensure that the existing building stock is raised to
optimum levels of performance and efficiency; its impact on UK emissions
will always outweigh gains achieved by new development.
Additionally, energy provision will, in the future, need to anticipate the effects of climate change.
It is good practice as much as technology that will deliver the best energy efficiency savings.
Forces for change
- Likely future increases in primary energy costs (especially gas and oil).
- The Government plans outlined in the Energy White Paper (Feb 2003)
to curb greenhouse gas emissions (cutting carbon emissions by 60 percent
by 2050) by saving energy (and introducing more renewables).
- The 2002 update of Building Regulations (Part L) will progressively
raise energy performance standards; a further review has been prompted
by the White Paper.
- Duty on Local Authorities to secure a significant improvement in
domestic energy efficiency across all housing tenures. The current
target is a 30% reduction on 1996 levels by 2010 (The Home Energy
Conservation Act 1995).
- Higher energy performance targets for energy management (especially in newbuild) established by some organisations.
- Higher specifications for energy efficiency building materials
prompted by the removal of VAT on those products, and the fiscal
incentive of enhanced capital allowances.
- The legal requirement to display energy ratings on electrical
appliances (EU Eco Label) and SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure)
ratings on new homes.
- EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to be implemented in UK by Jan 2006.
