Energy Efficiency (Hansard, 10 March 1986)

§ 10. Mr. Stott
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to promote the use of home energy audits.

§ Mr. David Hunt
My Department is continuing to work on the development of home energy audits at a price that the householder can afford.

§ 15. Mr. Patchett
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how he intends to monitor the effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Year.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
Energy Efficiency Year is just part of my campaign to save the 20 per cent. of our energy that is now being wasted. The level of response to our advertising campaign, attendances at our Monergy breakfast briefings and increases in the sales of energy efficiency goods and services will give some measure of the success of this campaign. The number of events taking place during the Year—well on course towards our target of 1,000—is another measure.

§ 19. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made towards the formulation of a national energy policy.

§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith
It remains the Government's aim that energy should be produced, supplied and used efficiently and economically.

§ 22. Mr. Bellingham
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made since 17 February in promoting energy efficiency measures in Energy Efficiency Year.
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§ Mr. David Hunt
Our campaign is reaching every sector of the community. Since 17 February over 75 school plays have taken place as well as around 50 other events aimed at the domestic and industrial/commercial sectors. The Monergy '86 Roadshow is now at the Earls Court Ideal Homes exhibition and will visit nearly 200 town centres during the Year. Our major advertising campaign is continuing both on television and in the national and specialist press.

§ 23. Mr. Haynes
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans for targeting energy efficiency measures on housing in the inner cities.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
No. My energy efficiency campaign is directed at all sectors of the economy.

§ 32. Mrs. Clwyd
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what special measures will be made to make Energy Efficiency Year relevant to the needs of lower income households.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
I expect the number of voluntary sector insulation projects to double to around 400 as this programme, sponsored by the Manpower Services Commission and my Department, expands during Energy Efficiency Year. Over 100,000 more homes will be insulated, making a total of around a quarter of a million since the programme began. The programme will also create up to 6,000 jobs among the long-term unemployed.
In addition, low-income households can benefit from the advice and information on domestic energy efficiency measures, which has been made widely available by the Energy Efficiency Office; and many of the voluntary sector insulation projects also run individual energy counselling services.

§ 36. Mr. Cunliffe
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what provision he has made to increase the resources available to regional energy efficiency offices.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
The resources of regional energy efficiency offices have been increased substantially. Regional energy efficiency officers now have full-time assistants and clerical support and are able to draw on local professional assistance as required.

§ 40. Mr. Spencer
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the progress in attaining objectives of the Monergy campaign.

§ Mr. David Hunt
Energy Efficiency Year aims to increase awareness and implementation of energy efficiency measures as a contribution to our campaign to save the 20 per cent. of our energy that is now being wasted. Our publicity programme including national press and television advertising has generated a substantial level of interest. We are well on course to achieve our original target of over 1,000 events during the Year—events run by private companies, the fuel industries and local authorities as well as the energy efficiency office. These events cover every sector and level of the community—including not only seminars for top executives but also courses for caretakers and plant operators and plays for schoolchildren.