27.11.13
UK must invest in energy efficiency – WSBF
The government must do more to help UK businesses improve their energy efficiency, a new report published by the Westminster Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF) and Carbon Connect urges.
The report identifies barriers to widespread take-up of energy efficiency measures and calls for improved finance options for SMEs, as well as an awareness drive amongst businesses and landlords.
An increased role for LEPs could help increase efficiency in UK business, and increased financial penalties for landlords failing to provide energy efficient certificates for their buildings could improve the incentives in place.
The report follows a six month cross-party inquiry, led by Oliver Colvile MP and Lord Whitty.
Speaking ahead of the report’s publication, Colvile said: “The need to increase the resilience of our businesses against the threat of climate change, and energy price volatility could not be greater. The obvious cost savings, coupled with improved productivity that can be realised from energy efficiency, makes it quite clear that now is the time to invest on a large scale.
“To do that requires government intervention – to raise awareness, guarantee low cost loans, stimulate the market and incentivise the landlords. This report lays out clearly how that can be achieved quickly and cost effectively.”
Lord Whitty said: “This report shows clearly a worrying lack of understanding across the UK commercial sector of both the benefits of improved energy efficiency and the ways in which companies can finance and engage in improvements. The government needs to be clearer about all of the non-domestic energy efficiency programmes available to the commercial sector and an energy efficiency ‘hub’ website must be created to guide senior executives through investment in energy efficiency.”
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