DECC Scores Low On Energy Efficiency

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), which is charged with increasing energy efficiency throughout the entire country, has scored the lowest possible rating on their own efficiency scale. The government utilises a seven point scale to classify efficiency ratings for public spaces ranging from A-G. The headquarters for the DECC in London scored a G. 

The score for the department was published along with efficiency ratings for 267 other public buildings in May. The buildings were scored after questions were raised in parliament by the Conservative Party. Energy use in buildings currently accounts for about 45% of the UK’s carbon emissions.

In the UK one out of every three government buildings scored a G, the lowest possible score. The Home Office and the Department of Health received the lowest possible G, while on average government buildings scored the next lowest on the scale, F. Furthermore over 70% of the buildings scored an E or below, which indicates that these government buildings are less efficient than private buildings of the same type an d size. Not a single building scored an A or B. The Ministry of Justice and the Wales Office did however both manage to score Cs.

A spokesperson for DECC stated that the department had just changed locations in October and had not yet had time to make the building more energy efficient, however, the department did have plans to do so. “This is not easy as our new home is a Grade II-listed heritage building and more than 100 years old - making it difficult to match the energy-efficiency standards of new buildings.”

Special thanks to the guardian.co.uk for the above quote, for more information please view the article on their website.