The UK must take action on energy saving in order to meet the country’s target of reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2050, according to Secretary State for Energy Chris Huhne.
Speaking at a Green Alliance meeting in London yesterday, Huhne stated:
“For too long, the debate around energy has focused on supply at the expense of demand. Practical, achievable energy savings have been neglected.”
Improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s homes needs to be addressed, he said, in tandem with decarbonising the country’s energy supply.
The Coalition Government intend to tackle the 25% of UK emissions from homes with the Green Deal, which will allow homes – and businesses – offset the cost energy improvements against saving made on energy bills.
Meanwhile, Huhne has indicated that he strongly backs the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) or a similar measure as part of the Government’s efforts to meeting its 15% renewables target by 2020.
While no programme will be immune from the Government’s comprehensive spending review scheduled for next month, the comments could quash speculation that the RHI was going to be scrapped.
Yesterday, UK business lobby group the CBI launched its own report calling for the Government to deliver an integrated and comprehensive policy for low-carbon heat.