Government Energy Efficiency Scheme Fails to Meet its Claim

It now seems that tens of thousands fewer home lofts have been insulated under the government’s energy efficiency program than what companies such as British Gas have claimed. Reports suggest that these companies have been double counting. Experts go on to claim that double counting means that up to 9.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide that is suppose to be saved by this program is simply not happening.

Energy companies have saved millions, because subsidizing loft installation is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to meet their obligation under the carbon emissions reduction target scheme. Ofgem, which oversees this scheme, introduced new guidelines last year in an attempt to close this loophole. However, it is still largely left to the energy companies to administer.

Under the four year Cert scheme, which started back in April of 2008, companies subside energy efficiency measures to reduce customers’ consumption of electricity and gas. An example of this would be to send households energy saving light bulbs. Approximately a third of spending has gone on insulting home lofts.

Right now, according to Ofgem, just over a million homes have been fitted with loft insulation by professionals up to the end of September. Ofgem also admitted that a further 38 million square meters were insulted on a “Do it Yourself” basis.

Several Industry sources confirmed that many professional installers have bought subsidized materials from retailers, which are only suppose to be sold to homeowners. That means that, where professionals have installed subsidized materials, energy companies are counting one address as having been installed twice.