Energy Efficiency

• Introduction
• Government Targets
• Local Authority Responsibilities
• How YOU can help

Introduction

The wasteful use of energy, especially when it has come from burning fossil fuels, is causing serious damage to the environment. It is estimated that home energy use is responsible for 28% of all UK carbon emissions, a figure which has increased by 8% since 1999.

Since 1970 improvements in UK homes has resulted in the doubling of energy efficiency  with consumers benefiting by saving £10 billion pounds and reducing carbon emissions by 28MtC per annum. This is three times the savings made by the entire nuclear industry and almost as much as the combined emissions from all coal fired power stations in the UK.

However in order for the UK government to deliver its target of reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2010 much more must be done.

Government Targets

• The UK Government is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, with an interim target of 26-32% by 2020.
• In November 2006 a Climate Change Bill was announced in the Queen's Speech, to formally include this target in the legislation and also to set up a Climate Change Commission to monitor progress.
• Beginning with the period 2008-2012 the Government will set five year carbon budgets limiting carbon dioxide emissions.
• The Draft Climate Change Bill is currently under consultation, with a closing date for comments of 12th June 2007.
• For further information please follow the link to the UK Climate Change website located within the external links section at the bottom of the page.

Local Authority Responsibilities

Under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 every energy conservation authority is required to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and to report to parliament each year the progress made.

Haringey's latest (2005/2006) HECA return and the very positive feedback received from DEFRA in response are available to download from the attached files section at the bottom of the page

How You Can Help

Please ensure that you use energy and resources sparingly and try to reduce your personal 'carbon footprint'. By following the advice provided by the Energy Saving Trust and making only small adjustments to your way of life you can easily save both energy and money.

Use the carbon footprint calculator (see the external links section below) to work out what your carbon footprint is and how to reduce it.

For further advice and information please follow the link to the Energy Saving Trust website, or Directgov's environment and greener living section, located within the external links section at the bottom of the page.

Attached Files

Filename	Filetype	Size
haringey home energy conservation act return 2006-2007.doc	Word	210K
defra heca feedback.pdf	PDF	101K
PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat reader. Please click here to download.

Useful External Links

The following links are not part of the Haringey Council website. Please read our legal disclaimer before using these links

• The Energy Saving Trust
• UK Climate Change
• Calculate your carbon footprint
• Directgov - environment and greener living
• London Climate Change - leading the way

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