Energy suppliers have worked with their customers, local authorities, social housing providers, charities and other interested third parties, to insulate nearly three million lofts and install cavity wall insulation in over two million homes.
Carbon Emissions Reduction Target
CERT requires energy suppliers with more than 250,000 customers to help cut carbon emissions from people's homes.The overall target is a reduction of 293 million tonnes of carbon dioxide between 2008 and 2012. Suppliers meet this target by promoting low carbon energy solutions to consumers, such as cavity wall and loft insulation, thereby helping them to reduce their household carbon emissions.
At least 40 per cent of the CERT target must be delivered to a Priority Group, low-income domestic consumers or those who are over 70 years old and on certain credits and benefits. There is an additional sub-target of carbon savings to be made within a Super Priority Group of vulnerable and low-income households - those most in need.
Community Energy Saving Programme
CESP runs between 2009 and 2012 and requires energy generators and suppliers to fund energy-saving measures in homes in low-income areas. CESP has been designed to promote a 'whole house' approach i.e. a package of energy efficiency measures best suited to the individual property.
Energy UK's view on the transition to the Energy Company Obligation
Government energy efficiency and fuel poverty solutions should take a holistic approach to encourage consumers to take action at every opportunity. Companies who have direct experience of customer engagement are best placed to implement energy efficiency measures. Generators have little experience of this, which makes delivery of their obligations a challenge and involves contracting out to other providers. Strong partnerships and innovation are key to successful delivery. To facilitate this, certainty of policy and regulation is crucial. This allows long-term planning and makes it possible to achieve goals cost-effectively.
CERT and CESP finish at the end of 2012 and will be replaced by the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). ECO is predicted to save over 4 billion from energy bills from October 2012 to March 2015. In order to ensure that ECO is delivered within the expected costs and timescale, as much as possible should be learnt from energy companies' experience of installing energy efficiency measures.
To find out more read Energy efficiency across Britain (PDF 900KB).
