'99 Update

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Energy

Introduction

Climate change is increasingly recognised as the greatest environmental threat since the human species evolved. Floods and droughts cause far more death by famine and displacement than all of the human conflicts put together. The biggest cause of climate change is the production of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.

Indicator 1: Energy Efficiency in Homes

Reduction in Carbon Dioxide from Domestic Premises

The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 required district and unitary councils to draw up a plan for reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in dwellings. It set a target of 30% reduction in CO2 emissions from dwellings over the following 10 years. The main direction of the approach is to reduce energy use by improving the energy efficiency of dwellings and simultaneously raising awareness of what can be done to reduce consumption.

The Government's 'Are you doing your bit?' campaign aims to explain in simple terms what individuals can do. The campaign illustrates how making simple changes to our daily actions can have a positive effect on the environment. For example:

• Turning off unnecessary lights;
• Only boiling just enough water when making hot drinks;
• Switching off TVs, computers and stereos when you are not using them;
• Walking, cycling or using public transport when you can;
• Turning down the heating thermostat by 1°C, which can cut fuel bills by 10%.

In addition to encouraging residents to insulate their homes, councils are also encouraging the use of alternative renewable fuels where appropriate. For instance a solar club is being set up in Hertfordshire to enable people to claim discounts on the installation of solar panels. More and more planning authorities across Hertfordshire are adopting policies which will require developers to carry out an energy audit of proposed development and to consider what improvements could be achieved using renewable energy.

Indicator 2: Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings

This indicator is based on an authority's approach to energy conservation. Does it have:-

• a conservation strategy approved by a committee of members?
• a dedicated budget for conservation works and associated expenses?
• a working group of officers to action, monitor and report on progress?
• monitoring of its larger energy accounts?
• instrumentation or sub-metering to analyse consumption by use within a building?
• a programme of works to achieve savings?

Measure of Actions to save Energy in Public Buildings

Hertfordshire County Council achieved the highest rating out of the authorities in the county for the management of energy in buildings it is responsible for. The County Council had a dedicated budget that was used for a range of works including upgrading of the Building Energy Management System (BEMS) at County Hall and a rolling programme of improvements to heating systems and lighting in schools. Building by building monitoring of current consumption, comparison with 1994/95 baseline data and specific National Performance Indices (NPI) identifies savings and excess usage.

Local councils are active in the pursuit of energy savings in their buildings with Watford, Stevenage, North Herts, Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne scoring 50% or more. In the 5 years since Stevenage Borough Council started actively managing its energy usage, gas and electricity worth £1.1 million has been saved.

For further information contact: Geoff Beale, East Herts District Council, 01279 655261