Scope
1.1. In July 2004 we appointed a Sub-Committee
to explore the contribution that energy efficiency could make
towards achieving the Government's objective, set out in the 2003
Energy White Paper[1],
of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by 2010.
We have examined in detail the practical measures designed
to fulfil this objective which were outlined in the Energy Efficiency
Action Plan[2], published
in 2004.
1.2. The scope of our report is broadly similar
to that of the chapter on energy efficiency in the White Paper.
This means we have not addressed either low-carbon generation
or transport. With regard to the former, we have already analysed
the Government's policies to promote renewable electricity generation
in our report Renewable Energy: Practicalities,[3]
which our current Report is intended to complement. While we have
included a chapter on encouraging markets for heat, in the process
touching on renewable heat, particularly biomass-fuelled district
heating and combined heat and power, we have not considered renewable
energy in detail in this inquiry.
1.3. Nor have we considered transport. While
acknowledging its critical importance to the Government's environmental
objectives, we were aware that its inclusion would have hugely
extended the scope of our inquiry. In addition, recent reports
by House of Commons Select Committees on aviation, and on "cars
of the future", have covered many of the issues that we might
otherwise have addressed.[4]
1.4. This means that while we have addressed
the two largest contributors to United Kingdom greenhouse gas[5]
emissions—business and industry (representing almost a third
of total emissions) and households (representing almost a quarter)—we
have excluded a sector, transport, representing almost another
quarter.[6] We note, moreover,
that the projected expansion of air transport, and the continuing
increases in road traffic, will mean that transport emissions
are projected to grow by some nine percent from 2000-2010, and
that they are likely to continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
At present the bulk of such emissions derive from road transport.
However, as the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee
has repeatedly argued, the projected growth in air travel in coming
decades means that emissions from this source, which as a result
both of altitude and of the contribution of water vapour are 2.5-2.7
times more damaging than equivalent surface-based emissions, could
"entirely negate" savings in other areas.[7]
International action to address emissions from the transport sector
will be essential if emissions are to be kept under control in
the long term.
Acknowledgements
1.5. The membership of the Sub-Committee is set
out in Appendix 1, and our Call for Evidence in Appendix 3. We
received valuable written and oral evidence from the witnesses
listed in Appendix 2. In October 2004 we held a seminar at the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, to which a range of experts
in the field contributed. In the course of our inquiry we also
travelled to Germany and Sweden, while within the United Kingdom
we visited the Building Research Establishment at Watford, Leicester,
Durham University, and the Flagship Home in Knightsbridge. We
wish to put on record our warm thanks to all those who have assisted
us in our work.
1.6. Our Specialist Adviser for this inquiry
was Professor Roland Clift, Director of the University of Surrey
Centre for Environmental Strategy. We have been extremely fortunate
to benefit from his expertise and enthusiasm, which have contributed
enormously to our work.
1 Our Energy Future-creating a low carbon future,
February 2003 (Cm 5761)-hereafter referred to as the "White
Paper". Back
2
Energy Efficiency: The Government's Plan for Action, April
2004 (Cm 6168)-hereafter referred to as the "Action Plan". Back
3
Science and Technology Committee, Renewable Energy: Practicalities,
4th Report, Session 2003-04 (HL Paper 126). Back
4
See Environmental Audit Committee, 9th Report of Session 2002-03,
Budget 2003 and Aviation (HC 672), and follow-up reports;
Transport Committee, 17th Report of Session 2003-04, Cars of
the Future (HC 319-I). Back
5
The "basket" of major greenhouse gases as follows: carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide
(N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons
(PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). As these gases
vary widely in the extent of their impact upon the atmosphere,
emissions are normally quantified in terms of carbon equivalence-most
commonly, millions of tonnes of carbon equivalent (MtC). CO2
is the least potent by weight, but by far the most significant
in volume and overall impact, representing over 80 percent of
United Kingdom emissions. Back
6
Review of the UK Climate Change Programme: Consultation Paper,
December 2004, pp 20, 56. Back
7
Budget 2003 and Aviation, p 9. Back
