The document discusses tools for reducing energy demand such as the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation programs in the UK. It notes that while tools for demand reduction are being developed, the key challenge is generating demand for their use. It suggests reframing questions around low carbon contributions rather than emissions cuts. Motivating savings rather than waste is also discussed. Setting energy efficient exemplars in normal homes, not just super homes, could help make low carbon living normal. Reinvigorating citizens as active influencers rather than passive consumers is presented as important for increasing demand.

1. Where’s the demand?
Presentation to Energy Policy in 2012
West of England Climate Challenge
19 January 2012
Simon Roberts OBE
Chief Executive
Centre for Sustainable Energy

2. New tools to deliver energy demand reduction
• Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation
• Smart meters
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
• Recession

3. The Green Deal in a nutshell…
You install energy efficiency improvements at no
upfront cost as the cost is recovered through your
electricity bill
Domestic and non-domestic properties

4. How? The ‘Golden Rule’
Your overall energy bill should not go up as the
monthly bill savings from installing the measure
should be greater than the repayment on the loan
taken out to pay for installing the measure

5. Looks a bit like this…

6. Not personal debt….
The charge is tied to the
electricity meter – so you
only pay if you’re
benefitting from the
measures, and not if you
move out.
And it doesn’t count as
personal debt.

7. The Green Deal process
Assessment Finance Installation Repayments
& Follow up
Accreditation

8. The Energy Company Obligation
• A major part – and key driver – of the Green Deal
• Helping complex measures meet the ‘Golden Rule’ for
domestic properties
• Providing affordable warmth for vulnerable customers

10. The demand reduction
toolbox will have more and
better tools.
But where’s the demand for
them to be used?

11. Key issues for demand creation
• Are we framing the question right?
• Are we talking to people in the right way?
• Are we setting the right examples?
• Are we too driven by the conception of individuals as consumers
with varying levels of buying power, reliant on business to sell to
them?

12. 1. Which is the better
‘framing’ question?
(a) “What are you doing about
cutting carbon emissions?”
(b) “How can we best make our
contribution to a low carbon
future round here?”

13. 2. Which is more motivating?
(a) Save £400 on your fuel bills
(b) Stop wasting £400 on your
fuel bills
(c) Stop giving £400 to British
Gas and keep it for yourself

14. 3. Which does most to make
low carbon ‘normal’ and
‘what we do round here’?
(a) exemplary ‘super homes’
(b) exemplary ‘normal homes’

15. 4. How do we re-invigorate the
population as active citizens with
influence, rather than mere
consumers with varying levels of
buying power or passive clients of
state-run services?

16. Thank you
Simon Roberts
simon.roberts@cse.org.uk
www.cse.org.uk