Wecc energy policy in 2012 workshop

Where’s the demand? Presentation to Energy Policy in 2012West of England Climate Challenge19 January 2012

Simon Roberts OBEChief ExecutiveCentre for Sustainable Energy

New tools to deliver energy demand reduction

• Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation • Smart meters• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme• Recession

The Green Deal in a nutshell…

You install energy efficiency improvements at no upfront cost as the cost is recovered through your electricity bill

Domestic and non-domestic properties

How? The ‘Golden Rule’ Your overall energy bill should not go up as the

monthly bill savings from installing the measure should be greater than the repayment on the loan taken out to pay for installing the measure

Looks a bit like this…

Not personal debt….

The charge is tied to the electricity meter – so you only pay if you’re benefitting from the measures, and not if you move out.And it doesn’t count as personal debt.

The Green Deal process

Assessment Finance Installation Repayments & Follow up

Accreditation

The Energy Company Obligation• A major part – and key driver – of the Green Deal• Helping complex measures meet the ‘Golden Rule’ for

domestic properties• Providing affordable warmth for vulnerable customers

The demand reduction toolbox will have more and better tools. But where’s the demand for them to be used?

Key issues for demand creation• Are we framing the question right?• Are we talking to people in the right way?• Are we setting the right examples?• Are we too driven by the conception of individuals as consumers

with varying levels of buying power, reliant on business to sell to them?

1. Which is the better ‘framing’ question?

(a) “What are you doing about cutting carbon emissions?”(b) “How can we best make our contribution to a low carbon future round here?”

2. Which is more motivating?

(a) Save £400 on your fuel bills(b) Stop wasting £400 on your fuel bills(c) Stop giving £400 to British Gas and keep it for yourself

3. Which does most to make low carbon ‘normal’ and

‘what we do round here’?

(a) exemplary ‘super homes’(b) exemplary ‘normal homes’

4. How do we re-invigorate the population as active citizens with influence, rather than mere consumers with varying levels of buying power or passive clients of state-run services?

Thank you

Simon [email protected]