Enigin Update - Poor Energy Efficiency of Public Sector Buildings
OVER 70 percent of Scotland’s public sector buildings have a poor energy efficiency rating according to a report by Audit Scotland.
The report also revealed there had been little change in the energy used in the Scottish public sector between 2006/07 and 2008/09, yet the energy costs increased by over 20 percent to £322 million.
Audit Scotland’s report “Improving Energy Efficiency” calla on the nation’s public sector organisations to lead by example by doing more to reduce energy use and CO2 emissions.
The Scottish Government have published an action plan to improve energy efficiency which also prompted 85 percent of public bodies to develop energy efficiency strategies.
Despite these moves the information gathered by Audit Scotland shows more than 70 percent of large public buildings have an energy efficiency rating in the lowest three categories of the seven available in the Energy Performance Certificate system.
The Energy Performance Certificate system is designed to give a rating to each building based on its carbon emissions.
Public bodies such as the National Health Service and local councils are expected to contribute towards national targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland, said:
"Energy efficiency is important for the public sector both financially and environmentally. Public bodies spend significant amounts of public money on energy and should be leading by example in acting to reduce emissions.
"The energy performance of public sector buildings presents challenges for improving energy efficiency, at a time when Scotland is facing reductions in capital investment.
"The Scottish Government should target its efforts and investment where the biggest reductions in energy use and emissions can be made for the whole public sector.
"It also needs to ensure that its action plan is robust enough to achieve the pace of change needed."
John Baillie, the chairman of Accounts Commission for Scotland, added:
"There is no doubt that Scotland's councils are working hard to improve their energy efficiency and treat the issue with the importance it deserves.
"In recent years councils have reduced their emissions, and it is encouraging to see that over 90 percent of councils have strategies in place to improve energy efficiency.
"However, councils account for more than half of the public sector's energy use, and have an important role in driving and increasing the pace of change.
"They need to work with the Scottish Government to implement its energy efficiency action plan, and ensure they are collecting accurate information on transport use and resultant emissions."
Enigin Distributors in Scotland, and elsewhere, have the ideal solutions from Enigin to aid public sector organisations and local governments to control their energy use, control it efficiently leading to reduced energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Picture by conner395
