Comment: 02.03.2010

Tony Hawkhead

We all want to take action to reduce our carbon emissions (and our energy bills) but we’re not sure where to start.
True or false?

We all want to take action to reduce our carbon emissions (and our energy bills) but we’re not sure where to start.
True or false?

Well, it’s probably a fair assessment of the position many of us are in, but according to a recent report it’s not just individuals who are scratching their heads, it’s local authorities too.

The Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes has published research which indicates that local authorities lack confidence in their ability to deliver emissions reductions. Two thirds of the 150 local area agreements in England include National Indicator (NI) 186, which aims to reduce carbon emissions across the whole local community.

While it is very encouraging that the commitment to carbon reduction is so widespread, it is worrying that local authorities feel unable to influence local emissions – and even more worrying that a large proportion of carbon emissions are perceived as being outside local authority influence altogether.

It’s an issue where we’re all looking to government – local and national – for leadership and guidance. To have an impact on emissions in the community requires residents’ buy in, as behaviour change is critical if we are to tilt the balance, once and for all, towards a low carbon world. Yet any politician knows that trying to alter behaviour by decree is hard work and unpopular; not a comfortable concept for any party during an election year.

The mayor of London’s response to this has been different. It will be interesting, particularly for local authorities, to see how successful it is. Boris has opened up the issue for public consultation, using social media and London based celebrities, in an attempt to get Londoners to upload their ideas, give their views and vote on proposals. Cynics will say it’s window dressing but, right now, any attempt to galvanise people into expressing their thoughts is the first step to helping policymakers understand what will make them change their behaviour. And, in any case, isn’t it about time that consultation got the Facebook treatment?

Of course it’s difficult to say how much Boris Johnson is in tune with the Tory leadership on this, but certainly environment shadow Nick Herbert has been at pains to focus on the softly, softly approach of positive incentives such as tax breaks – rather than what he refers to as a future ‘dominated by sanctions, restrictions and penalties’. The message seems to be: stay upbeat or people will just lose heart.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change’s ‘pay as you save’ pilot for households is a good example. Householders benefit from energy efficiency measures, without having to meet the upfront costs, which are instead repaid over a long period. Repayments are made from the (often big) savings coming from reduced energy bills. This might be a logistical headache – piloting it in just 500 homes involves close working of the energy suppliers, local authorities and the Energy Saving Trust, but it is a no-brainer in terms of its impact. The economic benefits of a lower carbon lifestyle should be its biggest selling point. And let’s face it, with the amount of polarised press coverage in the wake of the Copenhagen summit, we’ve got to do a seriously hard sell on behaviour change.

Pay as you save is also identified in the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes’ report, as a way of local authorities delivering on their emission targets as well as increasing the resources available for climate change action. Not surprisingly, people respond positively to this approach. It benefits them directly and gives them a straightforward behaviour change incentive.

In a survey commissioned by Groundwork into energy efficiency in the home, we found that people liked the idea of a local adviser, experienced in community work, to help them understand what their options are. Our survey also revealed that people living in housing association and council rented accommodation were particularly interested in a visit from an adviser, reporting that it would encourage them to have loft and cavity wall insulation installed.

People can be motivated and, given the right support, be ready to take action to reduce their carbon emissions, or to put pressure on their landlords to do so. It just takes the right approach. Local authorities with NI 186 targets to meet, please take note.