When will we get serious on energy efficiency?

The Spanish Government recently announced an ambitious energy efficiency package to cut reliance on fossil fuels. Measures included cutting the speed limit on roads, regulating temperatures for air conditioning, running more Metro services and handing out 49 million free energy-saving light bulbs.

Here in the UK, we pay constant lip-service to energy efficiency, but consistenly fail to raise our ambition. The recent energy White Paper, like its predecessors, stated that: “The starting point for our energy policy is to save energy. It is often the cheapest way of reducing carbon emissions, certainly in the short-term.”

We now have a visionary and challenging renewables strategy in the UK, which will see a tenfold increase in renewable energy, and draw in funding of £100 million.

Yet energy efficiency still seems to be buried in the bowels of Defra. There is no serious plan and no serious money.What is the problem? I know that energy efficiency, and the multiple small steps it requires, it is not as exciting as the shiny new renewables technolgies. But it is a better investment. It delivers cheaper carbon savings. And it can be socially progressive.

Surely it is time for a serious policy?