A first step towards real action?
October 1st 2008

With dramatic new moves on energy and climate change, the stage is set for real action – but only if momentum can be maintained, argues Alan Aldridge, Executive Director of the Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA)

The announcement on 3 October that energy and climate change issues are to have a single Government department with a seat at the cabinet table is a recognition of the central importance that energy has in the policy arena – and in the practical matters of combating climate change and delivering energy security. Two other announcements in the last week reinforce this urgency. On 16 October, the new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband (Foreign Secretary David's brother), announced in the House of Commons that the UK would commit itself to reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.While a 60% cut by that date was already going to be challenging, 80% is going to require some urgent action.

And the leaders of the European Union, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, re-affirmed their climate change targets on the same day, despite the world financial crisis.

There may yet have to be some horse-trading, particularly with the Eastern Europeans, about the details but it was an important signal that climate change is still an important issue for the whole of Europe.

And the Government is recognising the need to translate policy into action. Gordon Brown was criticised by some when his response two months ago to the recent rocketing prices of fuel was to step up energy efficiency measures.Now whatever one's party political views, any step towards greater energy efficiency has to be a move in the right direction – at the same time cutting down on the need to import energy and reducing emissions as well. It may not go far enough, but it is at least a step in the right direction, in the same way that combining supply and demand side issues makes an integrated policy framework finally achievable.The key now is to ensure that momentum is sustained. So much can be achieved, but all too often policy is announced and the concrete measures to achieve the policy goals are not followed through.That must not be allowed to happen now: the issue is too important.

Recognition at last? While all these announcements suggest there may be more interest at the highest level in increasing the efficiency of energy use, it may be too soon yet to expect that the energy manager will be recognised as one of the essential players in this process.However, concrete measures will have to be put into practice in real buildings and real businesses. Energy managers – and the industry that serves them – will be the ones who actually deliver efficiency savings in this area.

Already, measures such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment and, in the public sector initially, Display Energy Certificates, are requiring business and the public sector to look for ways of improving energy performance. And savings are being achieved through tried and tested energy management practices combined with the latest technology.This now looks likely to be a template for the future. It also means that energy managers can with more confidence say to senior managers "We need to invest now – this is the pattern for the future".

Joining up policy It does appear that Government is finally getting the message about joined up policy on energy – and support for energy efficiency. Let us all hope that this translates into more targeted measures to encourage energy management both in the home and the workplace. Increased levels of insulation is an important first step – but there is a long journey ahead if we are to minimise our energy dependence and meet our climate change ambitions.

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