Press Release - Programmes to reduce household energy
consumption
2 July 2008
Programmes to improve household energy efficiency and reduce
energy consumption cost taxpayers and householders around £2.6
billion a year. A report out today by the National Audit Office
found signs that the long-term growth in household energy
consumption is beginning to reverse. But greater efforts will be
needed to maintain this recent improvement.
A typical UK household could save about 30 per cent of their energy
bills if they adopted available energy saving measures. Recent
surveys by the Energy Saving Trust highlight that 71 per cent of
households leave appliances on standby, 63 per cent forget to turn
lights off in rooms and 28 per cent leave heating on when their
house is unoccupied. Reducing household energy consumption is also
an important element of UK climate change policy, and assists other
objectives, including combating fuel poverty and improving energy
security.
The energy efficiency of households improved by 19 per cent between
1990 and 2004. Today’s report found that this improvement was
offset by a rise in household energy consumption caused by trends
such as more and smaller households and the growth in consumer
electronics. Since 2004, however, household energy consumption has
begun to fall.
The obligation on energy suppliers to provide energy efficiency
measures has been successful, particularly in targeting vulnerable
households. But there are concerns about the capability of
suppliers to meet the required installation rates of loft and
cavity wall insulation. The report also found a growing recognition
of the risk of non-compliance with Building Regulations. There is
little information on the degree of non-compliance but if not
tackled it could undermine the requirements for new homes to be
more energy efficient. Programmes to promote energy efficient
appliances have had some effect, but other countries have probably
done better in terms of take-up and the products on offer.
Tim Burr, head of the National Audit Office, said:
“There are encouraging signs that the long-term growth in household
energy consumption is reversing. But most of us still forget to
turn off the lights in empty rooms, and building regulations to
save energy in homes are not always followed. If targets are to be
met, departments need to improve their understanding of how
programmes are working in real homes, and how householders are
responding to them.”
Notes for Editors
- In order for government to meet economy-wide energy consumption
targets, household consumption needs to fall by 11 per cent by 2010
and a further two per cent by 2016, compared with 2001-05 levels.
And government has set a target to improve household energy
efficiency by at least 20 per cent by 2010 compared with levels in
2000.
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Tim Burr, is the head of
the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He and the
NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 31/08
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