§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific measures his Department has taken to promote energy efficiency; what further measures his Department intends to take to promote energy efficiency; and by what amount and what percentage of its total energy bill his Department's energy bill has been reduced over the past year.
§ Mr. LeighIn its contracts with business the Department includes energy efficiency as one of the subjects that it encourages firms to address in developing a comprehensive approach to environmental management.
On energy usage directly under the Department's control, the Department has appointed energy managers in all its main establishments. They are undertaking energy audits and preparing action plans in pursuit of the target to reduce energy usage by 15 per cent. in the next five years. The Department has identified areas where draught proofing and insulation could reduce heat loss and has implemented a considerable amount of remedial action. Conventional lighting has been replaced by energy conservation fittings. The efficiency and the time of operation of heating and air conditioning plant have been reviewed with a view to reducing energy usage and operating times while maintaining an acceptable environment. These programmes will continue in the future. In addition, some inefficient boilers are being replaced and building energy management systems are being updated in main buildings.
On savings achieved, responsibility for energy efficiency has until recently been shared between Department of Environment Property Holdings and the Department of Trade and Industry and the information has not been collected in the form requested. It will be available in future years.