ENERGY WHITE PAPER MISSES OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE EXISTING STOCK

 25 May 2007

The Construction Products Association tentatively welcomed the government’s Energy White Paper launched this week, especially its focus on ‘Saving Energy’ but was disappointed that it had missed the opportunity to create even greater incentives to improve the energy efficiency of the existing stock.

Speaking after the launch, Rita Singh, Environment and Industry Performance Director for the Association said: “There is a great deal of focus on raising awareness and making information available to householders and businesses, which is good, but not nearly enough on how to act on this information and how t householders in particular can be incentivised to improve their property.

“Just one percent improvement in the existing stock’s carbon emissions would be more than equal to making a whole year’s new build zero carbon.

“It is also disappointing that Energy Performance Certificates have been delayed as they will be an extremely useful step towards encouraging householders to be aware of their homes’ energy efficiency.  However, once introduced they must be followed through with adequate incentives.  The Association has suggested a number of incentives such as stamp duty rebates if the work to improve the property is undertaken within a defined time of purchasing a property. 

“We also believe the government needs to be more ambitious in its plans to reduce VAT on energy efficient products.  It should introduce a package of measures to allow householders to choose the most appropriate route for upgrading their property by offering reduced VAT on all energy efficient products”.

Singh continued; “Industry fully recognises the role it has to play and as manufacturers of construction products our members are not only addressing emissions from their plants but are innovating in products that will, in their application help to reduce energy consumption.

“Significant investment has already been made to reduce emissions. However, suggestions from government to include these manufacturers in a league table to demonstrate a company’s performance disregards the improvements that have already made to date.

“We firmly believe that the most appropriate mechanism to encourage manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of their plants and reduce emissions is through an extension of the Climate Change Agreements.  Government’s own analysis has shown that greater reduction than expected has already been achieved through these.  It is essential that a fair policy proposal is implemented for manufacturers and we believe an extension of CCA would be the most appropriate.

“Finally we await full details on the proposed Carbon Reduction Commitment.  However we do not believe this is the most appropriate route for involving manufacturers who are not part of EUETS or CCAs and we look forward to the consultation when more details will emerge”.