Insulate Magazine Issue 15

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine
Insulate insulate Columnist columnist
The EEIG is Key
to the Industry's Success
Sarah Kostense-Winterton Executive Director, MIMA
“The EEIG is key to the industry’s success” a
government official told a group of political
stakeholders at a roundtable event in
December. They were speaking of the Energy
Efficiency Infrastructure Group’s (EEIG’s) campaign
- for a 20-year national infrastructure programme to
bring all UK homes up to a decent standard of energy
efficiency (EPC C by 2035), warmth and comfort
– and the comment underlines how far the EEIG has
come in the past year. There is still much more to
do, but the informal group, supported by a broad
church of over 25 organisations, and working with
others in the industry, has had notable successes
during 2017, including:
Government pledges around Energy Efficiency in the publication of the Clean Growth Strategy. In particular
the aspirational target to have all homes up to EPC band C by 2035.
The National Infrastructure Commission announcing in its interim report that it would examine Energy
Efficiency as one of its infrastructure priorities as well as producing a stand alone report in spring 2018, prior
to the NIA in summer 2018.
A growing realisation amongst UK policy makers, the current government and its backbenchers that energy
efficiency as a policy priority is a necessity and “an open goal” in terms of its all-round social, economic and
health and well-being benefits.
There has been much positive movement so far – more than we could ever have expected - and 2018 is most definitely
the year for the gaps to be filled in the Government’s aspirations. The EEIG will be seeking:
Government to fill out the detail on how it will meet its target to have all homes up to EPC band C by 2035.
The National Infrastructure Commission to follow through in its final report (“Assessment”) on Energy
Efficiency.
Initial spending commitments to be at a minimum outlined by the HM Treasury Budget at the end of the year.
The “how” we do it is perhaps for those who take a strong,
geeky interest in lobbying and public affairs. It focuses on
ensuring that government receives pressure from several
angles, and that multiple government departments and
political actors are engaged in pressing for change. Our
plan is supported by the armoury of EEIG communications
collateral tailored to our specific audiences and the widely
referenced and respected Frontier Economics report:
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