Climate Change

(asked on 27th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps (a) he is taking and (b) proposes to take to ensure that energy efficiency in buildings is adequate to ensure that the target of net zero by 2050 is met.


Answered by
Chris Skidmore Portrait
Chris Skidmore
This question was answered on 3rd July 2019

The UK has a good track record in energy efficiency. In the latest International Energy Efficiency Scorecard[1], the UK is ranked 4th in the world and scores very highly on buildings. Since 1990 we have improved the energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings, including public sector buildings, with respective emissions 18 per cent[2] and 40 per cent[3] lower in 2015.

Building energy efficiency policy forms a key part of our Clean Growth Strategy where we have set ambitious targets for non-domestic buildings:

  • Non-domestic buildings are targeted as part of our commitment to reduce business energy use by 20% by 2030. Various schemes are in place for businesses to improve their energy use such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS),and the Boosting Access for SMEs to Energy Efficiency (BASEE) and the Non-Domestic Smart Energy Management innovation competitions.
  • We already have regulations in place that set minimum energy performance standards for buildings in the private rented sector. A building is required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band E or better before being let. We are working to further tighten the minimum standards to deliver additional energy and carbon savings in the non-domestic sector.
  • We will look to take similar steps across the non-domestic owner occupier and new build stock. As part of that process, my Department is working with MHCLG to identify opportunities for driving further energy efficiency improvements in new and existing buildings through a consultation on Part L of the Building Regulations this year.
  • Following the launch of the Buildings Mission, we have commissioned research to understand how to halve the energy use of new buildings by 2030 and to halve the cost of retrofitting existing buildings to the same standard in the same timeframe.
  • By 2025 the government will introduce a Future Homes Standard for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world leading levels of energy efficiency, to create healthy homes that are fit for the future, have low energy bills, and are better for the environment. We will provide additional details of the planned introduction of the Future Homes Standard within the 2019 consultation on the energy efficiency standards of the Building Regulations.
  • We have committed to introduce a new scheme to help small businesses to improve the way they use energy and help them save money on their bills and reduce carbon emissions.
  • In response to a recommendation from the Green Finance Taskforce, we are working with partners to determine the steps necessary for landlords and businesses to understand and, potentially disclose operational energy use. This will not only help businesses reduce their energy use in the existing stock but will also be a key enabler in delivering the Buildings Mission.
  • We’re supporting a range of energy measures in public buildings through the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme. This funding, managed by Salix Finance, has delivered over 17,000 projects to date, improving energy performance in a range of buildings including schools and hospitals.

Progress will be kept under review to ensure we achieve net zero by 2050 and consider what further action will be required across sectors to deliver this.

[1] ACEE, ‘The 2018 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard’, 2018 https://aceee.org/research-report/i1801

[2] BEIS (2017) Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990-2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-2015

[3] Compared to 2015 levels. Sustainable Development Unit (2016) Sustainable Development in Health and Care Report – Health Check 2016 https://www.sduhealth.org.uk/policy-strategy/reporting/sustainable-development-in-health-and-care-report-2016.aspx

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