When power stations burn fossil fuels to generate energy, they pump out damaging greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These waste gases heat up the earth like a greenhouse, resulting in 'global warming'. And the rising temperatures, melting ice caps and rising sea levels cause climate change. Being energy efficient means reducing the energy wasted by homes and appliances behaving badly. And the result: less energy required from the power station and a subsequent reduction in the amount of damaging emissions they emit. One quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions every year originate from the energy we use to heat and light our homes, and run an increasing number of household appliances. So we can all do our bit to help.

Photograph:Ben Robinson, Cynosure (Sacha) What is the government doing?

To slow down the rate of climate change, the Government is working with other heads of state across the world to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The UK's target is to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in these emissions by 2010. There are also a number of schemes to promote energy efficiency across Europe - including the European Union Energy Label.

The Government has a range of policies to lower carbon dioxide emissions:

It is working with energy suppliers so that they invest around Ł450 million on energy efficiency in their customers' homes by 2005.

It has introduced the Climate Change Levy so that businesses pay a tax on their energy use. Businesses which use renewable energy are exempt from the Levy.

It has introduced a 'Renewables Obligation' so that all gas and electricity suppliers must provide 10% of the energy they sell from renewable sources by 2010.

It has promised investment of Ł100 million in new renewable technology, such as wind farms.

It has identified five 'warm zones' in a systemactic and integrated approach to tackling fuel poverty, by improving energy efficiency and making people more able to pay their bills through measures such as ensuring everyone who is eligible is on benefits. Warm zones include some of the most impoverished areas in England, with a large number of people who cannot afford to heat their houses in winter.

It has lowered VAT from 17.5% to 5% on some energy saving materials (insulation and heating controls), if they are fitted by professional installers.

What can I do to assess my energy use and reduce how much I Use?

There are a number of steps you can undertake to reduce your energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. There are a number of very useful web-sites and advice lines providing advice and on-line questionanires on how you can save energy:

You can get free, impartial advice on all aspects of energy use in your home by contacting your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC) on 0800 512 012. There are 52 Centres around the UK. You can check where they are located on our map. EEACs can point you towards the energy wasters in your home, give tips and advice on how to cut this wastage, refer you to an Energy Efficiency Installer and tell you about grants and offers available in your area if you want to take action. And athough you can get a lot of information from this site, EEACs can offer more personalised advice and help you with anything you are not clear on.

Energy efficiency advice centres web-site: http://www.saveenergy.co.uk/

Energy Savings Trust: http://www.est.org.uk

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) was set up after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, to help reduce CO2 emissions in the UK. It is a non-profit organisation funded by governments and the private sector.

Community Energy Programme: http://www.est.org.uk/communityenergy/

The Environment Minister, Michael Meacher launched the Ł50 million Community Energy programme to support the refurbishment of existing, and the installation of new, Community Heating schemes.

Mr Meacher echoed the Deputy Prime Minister's comments on launching the scheme in April 2001, emphasising that these schemes "will provide carbon savings; help to alleviate fuel poverty among householders, and reduce fuel costs for hospitals, universities and other community buildings."

Pathfinder bids must be submitted by March 8th. Further bidding rounds will be held in 2002-3 with expected deadlines of the end of June and October. Definite dates for these rounds and the timing of bidding rounds in 2003-4 will be announced nearer the time.

Incorporating energy efficiency measures into RE schemes

Energy Saving or energy efficiency measures can be incorporated into the business plan of many RE projects. Various types of schemes can be brought into play to maximise reductions in CO2 emissions and increase awareness for the need for energy use reduction measurements in the locality. These include:

Energy efficiency fund This can be funded either directly from a proportion of the revenue from the project or through external grant body investment. 0.5% of the gross revenue from Baywind is put into an energy conservation fund. Bro-dyfi Community Renewables has also set-up a community energy fund and is detailed below.

Visitors / educational / energy advice centre Two proposed community wind farms in South Wales have both incorporated energy efficiency measures into their business plan. One is looking at an setting up an energy efficiency business and the other is employing a member of staff to give energy efficiency advice to the local area. Both should be funded from the revenue from the wind farm.

Local electricity / district heating supply - long-term power purchase agreements can be put in place with local companies so that both the renewable energy generator and the local company can benefit from better pricing for electricity

Revenue used for local green transport schemes. The revenue generated from the project can be used to purchase electric vehicles for local car share schemes and can be charged using the electricity generated by the project. Such schemes are planned at the Findhorn foundation in Scotland and on the Shetland Islands.

Case Study: The Community Energy Fund

The Bro-Dyfi Community Wind turbine project was proposed with the primary goal of achieving reductions in the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) within the local community of the Dulas and Dyfi valleys. It aims to divert a proportion of the income generated from the wind turbine into a community energy fund for investment in local energy savings measures. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) have invested Ł11,000 in the project and the returns generated from the dividends on this investment will be placed into the community energy fund. It is estimated that the wind turbine will generate about 160MWh annually. Promotion of energy efficiency measures through the community energy fund could offset a further 784MWh annually (through the provision of low energy lightbulbs). Table 3 below summarises the savings proposed by the scheme.

Annual savings

Activity Energy (MWh) CO2 (Tonnes)

Wind turbine 160 70

Community Energy Fund (CFLs) 784 345

Sub Totals 994 415

Table 3: Summary of energy and carbon dioxide savings

The project is highly innovative in that it combines renewable technologies and energy efficiency measures, as part of an integrated and replicable local sustainable energy strategy, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

GRANTS AND AWARDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Grant/Award Name Contact Details Comments

Scottish Power Green Energy Fund 0800 027 7774 The trust meets twice a year to consider applications from renewable and environmental projects across the UK, with each application being assessed on its viability and the extent of its environmental impact on the local community.

Energy Efficiency Advice Centres http://www.saveenergy.co.uk Use this site to access the Grant Information Database for a single, central source of information about domestic energy efficiency GRANTS and offers. Has grant search facility.

Energy Efficiency Best Practise Programme, resource for companies www.energy-efficiency.org.uk Where some investment is required, the EEBPP can help you to invest wisely via building design advice, guidance on Combined Heat & Power proposals CHP, and funding for R&D on energy efficiency.

Enhanced Capitol Allowance Scheme www.eca.gov.uk The new ECA scheme enables businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances on investments in energy saving equipment. Businesses are now able to write off the whole cost of their investment against their taxable profits of the period during which they make the investment.

Transco - affordable warmth programme www.affordablewarmth.co.uk - 0800 111999 Tackling the problem of cost effectively modernising housing stocks to alleviate fuel poverty, meet environmental targets and improve health.

Warm Zones www.warmzones.co.uk Warm Zones is a new joint initiative between government, local communities and the private sector.

British Biogen www.britishbiogen.co.uk More about the Enhanced Capitol Allowance Scheme

Carbon Trust www.thecarbontrust.co.uk LCIP will be the principal vehicle for developing new low carbon technologies over the short, medium and long term. LCIP is currently being developed with the intention of a launch early in 2002, subject to State Aids approval. Under LCIP, The Carbon Trust will act as:

an informed investor; and

a co-ordinator of support for low carbon technologies drawing in partners and other sources of funding, and operating throughout the innovation process.

Triodos Bank www.windfund.co.uk The Wind Fund is an equity fund investing in small scale renewable energy projects. It is an initiative of Triodos Bank, which also provides its management.

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Grant/Award Name Contact Details Comments

Scottish Power/Thermomax 0800 889900 Scottish Power has teamed up with Thermomax to provide you with an all weather vacuum sealed solar water heating system. Installation of a complete system usually takes a day and provides as much as 60% of the household's annual hot water requirement. Ł1,000 off (Ł2990) for a 20 tube system. (No info on expected payback)

Scottish Power Light Bulbs Online Ł4.00 for Ł12.99 worth of bulbs, (Ł102.10 saving)