Insulate Magazine Issue 17

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine
“There is a huge amount more to do,” inferred Perry.
“We have heard lots of sensible ideas today, many
of which are extremely attractive and that we want to
take away. All of us want ​to get the costs and consumption
of energy down, reduce carbon emissions,
make our homes warmer, and make the transition to
low-carbon energy less risky. This is not an either/
or question; in order to meet our carbon targets, and
to create a housing stock that is fit for the future, we
absolutely need to do this.”
However, the Minister’s one word of caution that making
energy efficiency an infrastructure priority “does
not automatically turn on a new funding tap” must be
ignored at our peril.
“There is no packet of money under the Chancellor’s
desk marked ‘Infrastructure’, so this all has to be put
through a similar hopper,” Perry warned.
“Nevertheless, the point about energy efficiency is excellent;
energy efficiency is not only a strategic imperative,
but an economic imperative. If we improve energy
efficiency, we reduce people’s bills, create value, and
create opportunities and investment for new forms of
technology.”
What was clear during this debate – or dare I say discussion
given the MPs support across the political divide
- is that the politicians agree with one another and
there is immense (and very welcome) support from the
government minister too. We have challenges ahead
but the Clean Growth Strategy represents one of the
most significant milestones – the path ahead – to support
the reset and transformation of energy efficiency
policy, of how it is approached. This, supported by
the recommendations, amongst others, of this week’s
Green Finance Taskforce report, the Climate Change
Committee and, with fingers firmly crossed, of the National
Infrastructure Commission’s recommendations
due in the spring/early summer.
It is imperative that EEIG and its members focus on
supporting Perry and the Government on how to
deliver the jigsaw of potential policy measures and to
ensure HM Treasury becomes sold on the new way
of framing energy efficiency. The momentum we have
achieved throughout 2017 must be maintained lest we
let this important issue slip back into the traffic jam of
the new policy queue. As Perry rightly said
“This is not an either/or question; in order to meet our
carbon targets, and to create a housing stock that is
fit for the future, we absolutely need to do this.”
With this in mind, the EEIG has a packed strategy for
2018 with focus on doing exactly this. The EEIG remains
a broad church which represents those who are
committed to achieving change and delivering good
energy efficiency policy and quality housing “fit for the
future”. We are not about specific products, businesses
or organisations but committed to
achieving the EEIG’s goals. We are widening and
growing the membership so come and join us at the
next meeting on 11 April!
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