Glasgow has exceeded targets for reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions as part of the Government’s Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA). The Act, which is helping to meet the UK’s commitment on climate change, required all local authorities to set out measures for achievement energy efficiency over a 10-year period (1997-2007).

 

Though the Act did not specify a target, guidance produced at the time by the Scottish Office (now the Scottish Government) suggested that reducing domestic energy consumption and emissions by 30% over the period would be appropriate. In a report by the Council’s Development and Regeneration Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee, figures show that at the end of this 10-year period Glasgow has reduced total domestic energy consumption by 30.4% and cut CO2 emissions by 32.1%, going beyond what was expected of them.

 

By far the greatest energy reductions have been achieved in the social rented housing sector, with the largest savings made in the former local authority housing stock, which was transferred to Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) in March 2003. The move allowed GHA to invest heavily in its housing stock, post transfer, including installing efficient heating systems and insulation. This also meant lower fuel bills for tenants, many of who receive benefits.

 

Private sector housing has been slower to invest in energy efficiency measures largely as a consequence of the historically low cost of energy up to around 2005, resulting in a lack of motivation for householders to adopt energy saving measures. In addition a large part of the private sector housing stock consists of pre 1919 tenemental flats, which are particularly difficult and expensive to improve. Although too late for the time frame of this report, increases in fuel prices and heightened awareness in climate change will continue to have a positive impact on the private housing sector and the need to make changes.

 

When the original targets were set, Councils were also free to set their own energy efficiency levels appropriate to their local circumstances. Glasgow, keen to fulfil and go beyond its statutory obligations, raised the bar in terms of setting targets. It pledged to reduce domestic energy consumption by 35.8% and lower CO2 emissions by 35.5%, but this included caveats, particularly linked to the availability of Government funding to be able to achieve it plans. By the Council’s own admission the targets, when set in 1997, were ambitious but the city has come a long way in reducing its overall emissions and taking action to reduce the need for power.

 

Frank Docherty, Chair of the Council’s Development and Regeneration Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee said: “Reaching the Government targets for reducing energy consumption and cutting CO2 emissions proves once again the Council, along with its partners and Glasgow’s residents are committed to dealing with climate change, reducing pollution and making our city a better place to live, work and visit. “In addition to cutting emissions, improving the energy efficiency of our houses will bring a number of benefits including lower fuel bills and helping to tackle fuel poverty.

 

Which in turn has an advantageous effect on people’s health and quality of life. “Although we didn’t meet the Council’s own targets, I think when Communities Scotland publishes its final report on the subject, we will see that Glasgow compares extremely favourably with other local authorities and is the next step in Glasgow City Council’s mission to become the greenest local authority in Scotland.” The good news on Glasgow’s reduction on CO2 emissions also comes after The Energy Saving Trust published it’s Green Barometer III report revealing the UK’s biggest carbon wasters council-area-by-council-area.

 

Glasgow has been identified as one of the cities with the lowest CO2 emissions per household, second only to the City of London.