Climate change & energy

Action in the UK - Energy: research

Sustainable energy efficiency analysis and research

Here you can find information and reports from various pieces of research that are being used to inform Defra’s energy efficiency policies.

Research projects on monitoring energy use and energy efficiency savings in housing
The “Rebound Effect”

Defra employed Strathclyde University and a consortium from Cambridge to conduct two studies on the macro-economic rebound effect. Some argue that energy efficiency changes the pattern of consumption and production in the economy such that overall energy use increases. These studies found that at the macro level, whilst energy efficiency does increase the productivity of the economy the impact on overall energy consumption is small. Based on the Cambridge Econometrics model the indirect or macro economic rebound effect is only 11 per cent.

Both reports are free to download:

Metering, billing and direct displays

Most domestic energy use, most of the time, is invisible to the user. Most people have only a vague idea of how much energy they are using for different purposes and what sort of difference they could make by changing day-to-day behaviour or investing in efficiency measures. Hence the importance of feedback in making energy more visible and more amenable to understanding and control. Defra commissioned a review, which was undertaken by the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University, to consider what is known about the effectiveness of feedback to householders. The focus of the review was on how people change their behaviour, not on the detail of the technology used.

Energy use in homes

A series of reports on domestic energy use in England in 2005 are available. These reports consider the energy efficiency characteristics of the English housing stock, as described by the English House Condition Survey (EHCS), and examine space and water heating systems and thermal insulation measures. They extend temporal analysis back to 1991, establishing a timeline that will continue to be updated annually.

These reports have been prepared by BRE on behalf of Defra, through a contract managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST). Each report consists of an executive summary, the main body of the report and a complete series of supporting tables:

A supplementary focus report examining 'Hard To Treat' (HTT) housing has also been produced. This report examines key attributes of this section of the housing stock, and investigates the scope for energy efficiency improvements:

Domestic energy fact file

The purpose of the Domestic Energy Fact File is to gather together data on important trends related to domestic energy use, and in particular on the measures that have been taken to improve energy efficiency. The reports cover the period from 1970 (just before the first oil crisis). The information has been prepared by the Building Research Establishment using the BREHOMES model.

Domestic energy fact file (2006): Owner occupied, local authority, private rented and registered social landlord homes

This report provides information on trends relating to energy use and energy efficiency in homes in Great Britain. The information is broken down by different tenures - owner occupied, local authority, private rented and registered social landlord (RSL). The tables, graphs and charts are equivalent to those in the Domestic energy fact file 2003 (see below) which covers all tenures.

Domestic energy fact file (2003)

The purpose of this report is to gather together in one volume data on important trends related to domestic energy use, and in particular on the measures that have been taken to improve energy efficiency. Most of the tables relate to national totals and will be mainly of use to Government Departments and others interested in research or planning at that level. The report covers the period from 1970 (just before the first oil crisis) until 2001.

Domestic energy fact file: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (2001)

This overview paper provides information on the trends in energy use and energy efficiency in the housing stock for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It shows trends from the 1970s to 1999 and illustrates the differences and similarities between the countries. It will be of interest to those who wish to make a comparison between the countries in the take up of insulation measures, fuel use and household expenditure. In particular, those involved in energy-related work for, or within, the devolved administrations should find the information useful.

The detailed figures behind the trends and comparisons discussed above are presented in the full report "Domestic energy fact file: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland" BR 427 available from www.BREbookshop.com or from CRC Tel: 020 7505 6622

Policy options to encourage energy efficiency in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) and public sectors

NERA Economic Consulting together with Enviros conducted a study on behalf of Defra to consider policies for firms below the threshold for the proposed Energy Performance Commitment. This report considers, in broad terms, the potential for enhancing these programmes or introducing new programmes to provide additional support. Defra has produced a summary of the report.

Energy Efficiency Innovation Review

In the Pre-Budget Report 2004 the Chancellor announced a joint Defra and HM Treasury Energy Efficiency Innovation Review. The purpose of the Review was to examine how a step-change in energy efficiency in the domestic, business and public sectors in the UK could be delivered cost effectively, and how energy efficiency improvement could be embedded into decision making across the economy.

The review was carried out under the leadership of a Steering Group drawn from the two sponsor Departments, the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust. On 5 December 2005 Gordon Brown’s Pre-Budget Report announced publication of a summary of the principal conclusions of the review:

This is a summary of two main reports which were published as reports to Government by the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust, and which can be found on the Trusts’ websites:

The conclusions and evidence base provided by these reports was taken into account in development of the Climate Change Programme.

Further background material, including the key evidence that informed the review, was published on 23 January 2006 in the following documents:

Title

Subject

Author

Review and development of carbon dioxide abatement curves for available technologies as part of the EEIR (PDF 1 MB - note large file size)

An in-depth reappraisal of carbon abatement curves and the carbon abatement potential of non-transport sectors.

Enviros Consulting Ltd.

Assessment of emerging innovative energy efficiency technologies (PDF 494 KB)

Appendix (PDF 1.2 MB - note large file size)

An evaluation of emerging low carbon technologies and the scope to stimulate these via additional UK RD&D.

Future Energy Solutions

Policies for energy efficiency in the UK household sector (PDF 900 KB)

Review of existing policies and literature on barriers to energy efficiency. Development of a new consumer response model and appraisal of options for new energy efficiency policies.

Oxera Consulting Ltd.

Comparison of UK and best international energy standards as at February 2005 (PDF 306 KB)

A comparison of UK energy standards with best practice internationally.

Defra’s Market Transformation Programme

 

Further information is available on our Help page about downloading or reading Adobe Acrobat documents.

Page last modified: 13 March 2008
Page published: 9 May 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs