Energy Efficiency Action Plan: formal review and annual report

5. Summary and conclusions

Since the publication of the EEAP in 2010, the Scottish Government has been committed to working closely with a range of partners and stakeholders in all sectors to deliver the actions that will contribute to the achievement of the challenging 12% reduction in final energy consumption in 2020. Whilst some of the progress against the target can be attributed to the impact of the recession latest energy figures indicate that we are on track to meeting the target. The latest energy trends data for 2010 showed a slight increase in consumption compared to 2009 due in part to the economic recovery from the previous year and a particularly cold winter. Consumption in 2010 was still 6.2% lower than the 2005-2007 baseline against which the 12% energy efficiency target is measured.

The Scottish Government's focus on energy efficiency, integrating energy and resource efficiency across its portfolio, sets a leading example and contributes to wider UK and EU energy efficiency targets and sets an example.

We have established strong links with our counterparts in UK Government, providing input to the UK Energy Efficiency Strategy (published in 2012) and have official representation on the UK Energy Efficiency Deployment Office ( EEDO). We also worked with the UK Government on a joint negotiating position on the European Energy Efficiency Directive which was agreed and ratified in November 2012. The aims of the directive in ensuring energy efficiency is a key priority should stand us in good stead in the period leading up to 2020. The Directive encourages refurbishment of public buildings, the installation of smart meters, and greater promotion of the benefits of energy efficiency. In addition, larger enterprises will be required to undertake energy audits and SMEs encouraged to undertake them. These steps should all contribute to educating, informing and enabling a change in behaviours to a more sustainable way of living.

By adopting a sectoral approach we have been able to focus on the actions, programmes and policies that will help us to make a difference, encouraging the involvement across government of key policy leads and also enabling effective engagement with a range of stakeholders.

This pro-active approach has helped to ensure that over 90% of the actions we set out in the plan have been delivered. Of the remaining actions, good progress is being made.

Energy efficiency has a significant role to play, not only to reduce energy demand, and related carbon emission but also to mitigate rising energy bills for domestic and non-domestic consumers; support the eradication of fuel poverty, and contribute significantly to the Scottish economy. The UK energy efficiency strategy highlights the opportunity. For example, the sector in the UK already accounts for 136,000 jobs and had sales of £17.6 billion in 2010/11 and a substantial proportion of this activity is in Scotland. The strategy also estimates that socially effective investment in energy efficiency could save 196TWh in 2020, equivalent to 22 power stations

Energy efficiency is integrated within mainstream policies. Over the next period the Scottish Government has set out its strategic direction and planned actions for these, including:

A draft Sustainable Housing Strategy published as a consultation in 2012 ;and the final publication of which will be in summer 2013, set out a route map and vision to 2030 for high-quality, warm, low-carbon including the launch of our £79 million Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland ( HEEPS) in April 2013 which is expected to attract additional funding from energy companies to create a total fund of around £200 million a year.

Having launched Resource Efficient Scotland in April 2013 for energy efficiency, waste, water and material resource efficiency we will support to businesses and, public sector and third sector organisations to target savings of at least £21 million per year for these organisations in Scotland.

Working with the Scottish Futures Trust, Resource Efficient Scotland, COSLA, NHS Health Facilities Scotland we will bring forward a nationwide programme of energy efficiency projects across the public sector estate including; converting to greener street lighting and non-domestic building retrofit; attracting investment from the private sector such as the Green Investment Bank. Projects like this are important as indicative analysis by the Scottish Futures Trust indicates that an investment of £350 million in low carbon measures - across the Scottish public estate - could lead to potential cost reductions in the region of £900 million. We support the development of a national green investment pipeline of private and public sector projects across Scotland ,engaging with the Green Investment Bank, European Investment Bank and private sector investors to establish where there are opportunities for large scale private investment; supplementing public sector investment and accelerating the programme

We published our Outline Heat Vision on 29 January 2013 and set out our ambition to have a largely decarbonised heat sector by 2050, with significant progress made by 2030 taking into consideration environmental, economic and social aims; and our intention to publish later this year a Draft Heat Generation Policy Statement for consultation. We held an Expert Commission on District Heating which reported in November 2012 and we will shortly publish the District Heating Action Plan, setting out its detailed response to the recommendations of the Expert Commission and the roadmap for these recommendations are being taken forward by Government, industry and other stakeholders.

The Scottish Government is committed to driving energy efficiency improvements through building standards. The Sullivan report, 'A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland' published in 2007 made a wide range of recommendations. These included step changes to energy standards within building regulations in sup-port of the ambition for Scotland to achieve net zero carbon buildings by 2016/17, if practical. In view of the economic downturn, the Sullivan Panel reconvened in May 2013 to review some of the recommendations made. It is expected that the Panel will report back in late summer/early autumn.

We are also developing regulations under Section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requiring the energy performance of existing non-domestic buildings to be assessed. Owners will either carry out physical improvement work to the building or make arrangements to measure, report and display operational ratings after such an assessment.

For existing housing, in Summer 2013, we are introducing new energy efficiency standards for social housing, setting initial targets to be met by 2020. We will have also committed to consulting by Spring 2015 on draft regulations for a minimum standard for private sector housing to be introduced in 2018.

Transport Scotland have worked with a range of stakeholders to provide greater choice to our citizens about decisions on modes of transport. We are investing over a billion pounds in 2013-14 in public transport and other sustainable travel options to encourage people to leave the car at home.

Future updates on progress against the 2020 target, as required under section 62 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, will be provided in Energy in Scotland: A Compendium of Scottish Energy Statistics and Information ^[54] published annually.

We believe that the pro-active programmes and policies put in place by the Scottish Government will maximise the opportunities to conserve energy whilst simultaneously achieving economic growth. Our continuing investment in fuel poverty and insulation programmes in the domestic sector, the holistic approach we have taken to resource efficiency support for business, our ongoing review and continuous improvement in building standards, and our successful efforts to leverage additional funding from a variety of sources all contribute to the Scotland's attainment of our objectives and our ambitious 2020 target.