Today marks the end of the UK Government’s month long challenge to reduce its own energy use with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in the lead.
Launched on 1 October, the Whitehall energy efficiency competition pitted departments against each other.
According to the latest figures, the DWP has cut its energy use by 19%, followed by the Department for Business, Industry and Skills (down 7%). Also making cuts where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Home Office, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Treasury and the Department for Transport.
However, over the same period the Department of Housing increased its energy usage by 16%. Other energy guzzlers include the Departments of Culture, Media and Sport (12%) and Communities and Local Government (CLG).
Prime Minister David Cameron pledged at the start of his premiership to cut energy use by 10% across all Government departments by next summer, but rather embarrassingly Number 10 has been one of the worst performers over the last month with energy use up 10%.
“Government cannot ask people to reduce their emissions without cutting our own emissions,” says Climate Change Minister Greg Barker. “But this is only the beginning and everyone needs to keep up the pace if we are to reduce emissions on the government estate by 10%.”
Going forward, DECC and three other departments (BIS, FCO and CLG) are going to trial novel energy-saving technologies, in collaboration with the Technology Strategy Board.
The Technology Strategy Board and DECC will be investing £2 million in nine pilot projects to trial technologies such as phase-change ceiling tiles, LED lighting, and a natural cooling system.