In response to a number of recent government consultations, CIBSE (Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) is calling for the adoption of a co-ordinated policy approach to energy supply.
Chief executive of Ofgem, Alistair Buchanan, has warned about the vulnerabilities of the UK energy supply system. With consumption levels likely to be dangerously close to maximum capacity, and UK consumers facing steadily rising prices and even interruptions of supply, action to reduce demand needs to be taken now.

According to Mr Buchanan, about 10 per cent of Britain's generation stock will disappear as early as next month as coal and oil-fired power stations close earlier than expected to meet environmental targets.

Hywel Davies, technical director of CIBSE, said: 'It is becoming clearer by the week that the UK needs to focus on reducing its demand for energy. This will help to keep bills down and the lights on.'

David Fisk, CIBSE president, added: 'Since our buildings use nearly half our energy, this should be a matter of national priority. The projects and products showcased in our CIBSE Building Performance Awards for example show us what can be achieved and raise the bar of best practice for all of us in the built environment.'

Following the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Electricity Demand Reduction Consultation which recently closed, CIBSE has made a number of suggestions about how this could be achieved through a co-ordinated policy approach that raises levels of compliance with existing policy measures, as well as introducing new incentives for energy use.

The Institution strongly supports policies to encourage lower demand, saving consumers and business users' money by reducing unnecessary use of energy, lowering the national bill for new generating capacity and contributing to greater energy security by being less reliant on energy imports.

In its response, the Institution noted that government estimates that effective demand reduction could reduce the need for new power stations by as many as 22 new units. A significant proportion of the anticipated savings will come from the reduced energy use in buildings, and the analysis which supports the consultation shows that much of the proposed saving is dependent on both current and proposed Building Regulations.

Drawing attention to the need to ensure compliance with the energy saving aspects of the Building Regulations contained in Part L is also noted. The CIBSE response calls for a greater emphasis on compliance with the existing requirements, alongside the additional proposed electricity reduction measures.

In addition, CIBSE has encouraged DECC to take a broader view and seek to co-ordinate policy responses relating to energy in buildings.

In responding, for example, to the European Union's DG Tax Consultation Paper: Review of existing legislation on reduced VAT rates which closed in January, CIBSE argues that it is essential for VAT on energy use to be levied at a rate which is no less than the VAT rate for energy efficiency measures and to incentive energy saving.

This also builds on the response to the consultation in the UK on extending the Renewable Heat Incentive to the domestic sector. CIBSE's response outlines its support for government renewable energy and carbon emissions reduction targets, and of measures to incentivise take-up of renewable energy and low carbon technologies.

As well as addressing specific consultation questions, CIBSE has sent a number of key recommendations to DECC in a special paper relating to the domestic proposals.

CIBSE's responses to the consultations are available at www.cibse.org/consultationresponses