Energy
'Energy' includes the electricity we use to run our machines and to give us light in our homes and at work, the gas which we use to heat our houses, the fuel in our cars, and as such is an important aspect of our quality of life. The energy we use comes largely from the combustion of fossil fuels, which has environmental implications both at present through atmospheric pollution and in the future through climate change.
The global perspective
The international community recognised some time ago that in order to preserve and protect the interest of future generations, proposed development activity should take into account economic, social and environmental considerations. Energy use plays a key part in sustainable development globally as energy generation contributes towards climate change. Effects of climate change are changes in weather patterns, sea levels, crop production and ecological systems which are all expected to affect Hertfordshire in the future, particularly in terms of pressure on water resources.
Recognising these factors, the international community established conventions and principles on how countries should act to mitigate the effects of climate change. Many of these principles are now incorporated into national laws. Local Authorities then look to statutes and various funds and agencies set up by Central Government to support improvement programmes. Local Energy Advice Centres are part of such programmes and provide information and help on reducing energy use in business and in the home. Call your local Energy Advice Centre on 0800 512012 for more information.
Energy use in Hertfordshire
In December 2005 the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) published estimates of energy use for all local authority areas in the UK. This is the first time that information of this type has been available and although it relates to use in 2003 it is significant step forward in providing a detailed picture of energy use across the country and enables us in Hertfordshire to look at energy use across Hertfordshire both by energy fuel source and by sector of use. The results of this work can be accessed at the DTI website here and summary results by fuel source and sector of use are shown in the following two graphs.
2003 local energy consumption
(by sector of use)
Source: xxxxx - download and view this data in excel
Regional and Local Energy Consumption
(by source)
Source: xxxxx - download and view this data in excel
Indicator EN1 - Energy Efficiency in Homes - indicator under review
The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) required every UK local authority with housing responsibilities to publish an energy conservation report identifying ways to significantly improve the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their area and to report on progress. It set a target of 30% reduction in CO2 emissions over 10 years which local councils have been reporting on since 1996.
N.B. Councils have used different methodologies and the figures are not necessarily comparative or to be seen as a 'league table', but show that Hertfordshire councils are moving in the right direction on improving the energy efficiency of homes in their area.
In Hertfordshire all the councils are part of the Hertfordshire Environmental Forum Energy Group which works to try and improve energy efficiency in its own activities and raise public awareness of energy-related environmental issues.
Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings EN2 - indicator under review
Although figures have historically been produced for this indicator, because there is no requirement to report on performance in public buildings and councils have very different types of buildings, the figures are not complete, consistent or comparable. We are moving towards new indicators for this chapter for which progress will be reported next year. The following table shows some examples of what Hertfordshire councils are doing to improve energy efficiency in their areas.
Energy and Local Health
Local Authorities must also consider local public health issues associated with energy production and supporting partners such as the Primary Care Trust. To achieve this the district/borough councils produce an affordable warmth strategy and this sets out how it intends to deal with the healthcare impacts associated with poor housing standards and low income. Local Authorities have to be mindful of the elderly and vulnerable, those on low income or in fuel poverty because they are most at risk from cold. Recognising this, Local Authorities have developed wall-insulation schemes and deliver improvements in public and private sector housing by partnering with energy utility companies. A successful scheme improves the thermal efficiency of homes, making them more comfortable and increasing fuel efficiency costs by an average of £250.00 per annum.
| Council name | Schemes |
|---|---|
| St Albans City & District Council | Private households insulation scheme offering free or discounted loft and cavity
wall insulation to all homeowners and private renters in the St Albans district.
The scheme has been running for 14 months and has provided insulation for
over 700 homes. A pilot scheme offering free or discounted insulating radiator panels to all 'hard to treat', i.e. solid wall, homes in the St Albans district. Take-up of the scheme has been excellent and it will be run again in winter 2006. |
| Hertsmere Borough Council | Hertsmere has a discounted insulation scheme called 'Cosy Toes' currently being
Borough Council piloted in Potters Bar. We have deals for pensioners and the council called 'Be Wise Be Warm' part funded by British Gas. Anyone of pensionable age whose main income is the state pension will receive free cavity wall and loft insulation (up to a max. of £600), also as part of the above pilot, pensioners in Potters Bar over 75 (regardless of income) will be able to access up to £600 worth of loft and cavity wall insulation. |
| Dacorum Borough Council | As well as being part of the Warmer Homes Greener Herts Scheme, Dacorum Borough Council promotes Warm Front and offers top-up grants where the Warm Front grant is insufficient to carry out the necessary works. We also offer our own energy efficiency grants to low income households that do not qualify for Warm Front. We have promoted the Energy Efficiency Commitment Scheme with a local installer and continue to run our Dacorum Energy Savers awareness raising campaign with the associated web-sitewww.energysavers.net |
The Warmer Homes Greener Herts campaign managed by Milton Keynes Energy Agency (MKEA)1 provides free advice on the best value option for taking advantage of grants and discounts on improving energy efficiency and effective heating in your home. The advice line is on 0800 80 48 777, lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. The 0800 service is being promoted across Herts and is supported by Hertfordshire Environmental Forum (HEF).
Planning and Energy
Local Authorities can also influence business and commercial interests to reduce the environmental implications of energy use. This is often done through the planning system where some authorities are imposing renewable power conditions on commercial development or through schemes involving external companies such as the Carbon Trust in energy advice and audits for large power users.
In 2004, in response to the Government's Energy White Paper, a study for the East of England Sustainable Development Round Table proposed that a target of 153,000 GWh of electricity should be produced from renewable energy technologies - namely onshore wind and biomass - within Hertfordshire by 2010.
To investigate the feasibility of any proposed targets for renewable energy and look into other possible technologies, Hertfordshire's local authorities engaged consultants to identify the realistic potential for renewable energy development in the county and to explore constraints to this development.
'Renewable Energy Options for Hertfordshire' concludes that Hertfordshire has the technical potential to meet the renewable energy target, but that for many technologies, developers will be largely constrained by commercial competitiveness (financial viability). For onshore wind particularly, the report concludes that planning policy will remain critical in attracting developers.
The plans for the number of new dwellings proposed for Hertfordshire present a significant opportunity for local councils to incorporate energy measures. Almost 50% of Hertfordshire's proposed renewable energy target could be achieved if 10% of the average household energy demand for new build dwellings were to be displaced by demand reduction (e.g. improved insulation) or incorporation of embedded renewable technologies. Planning authorities in Hertfordshire are currently considering the best ways to take forward the findings of the study.
You can look at the Hertfordshire Renewable Energy reports online here.