Sean Smith: We all have a part to play in helping to keep the lights on

Published on Monday 28 December 2009 20:53

FOR some people the 2020, 2030 and 2050 targets seem a long way off and the "eco-bling" and sustainability messages may seem over-cooked. The emissions expansion and energy usage of China seem hard to compete against.

But it is essential to understand that our personal energy use behaviour influences "grid strain". We all have a part to play, not only in reducing our emissions, but also in "keeping the lights on".

The move towards zero carbon homes has been a leading topic of policy in the UK for the last few years. New builds are adding just a tiny percentage towards the target – less than 1 per cent a year. That means we need to look at retro-fitting existing properties and convincing people to pay for expensive energy-saving solutions.

The greatest drivers for owner occupiers may not be the sustainability, feel-good argument but the significant increase in energy prices and potential lack of sufficient energy supply to the grid that is on the horizon.

The UK is the world's fourth largest consumer of gas but has the lowest reserves in Europe. Previous reports suggested 2017 would be the crunch year for the security of energy supply. But the Redpoint report in 2007 predicted the combined effect of increasing demand and the reduction in generation capacity would potentially lead to a critical "worst case" scenario as early as 2013.

The link between energy supply and demand with the energy performance of existing buildings and future construction is complex and extremely important. Efforts should therefore be focused on the construction sector, not least because 50 per cent of emissions are from building stock. Construction is also a major source of energy usage.

The collation of the detailed empirical process data on actual use of energy within buildings is long overdue. The forensic examination and full-scale occupancy evaluations of new technologies and building systems, such as future mechanical ventilation in housing, must be completed before future regulations rush headlong into unknown territory.

Government efforts to address these issues are currently spread over many departments, agencies and advisory committees. A structural shift is required to ensure new energy policies and building regulations are deliverable.

At present, collaborative energy, infrastructure and construction research projects are running to three or four-year timescales. They are often undertaken by those who wrote the best funding proposal rather than those with the best track record for effective and measurable outcomes.

To deliver the low carbon and energy roadmap required, we should harness leading academic researchers with industry experts, similar to the Second World War Manhattan Project. Energy, construction and technology experts should work in tandem with key industry sector experts and require very long-term public-sector support.

It should encompass a range of experts from academia with proven track records in applied research and effective deliverables.

The long-term future for security of energy supply, the delivery of low energy and low carbon buildings and the emissions reductions required by 2020, 2030 and 2050 cannot be subject to the four-year election cycle.

The establishment of a Scottish or UK Energy & Emissions Commission, which would advise government, would drive forward the collective research, development and outputs in a cohesive and stable manner. This has the potential for impressive environmental, energy and economic deliverables and longer term outcomes – to make sure the lights don't go out.

&#149 Sean Smith is director of the Institute for Sustainable Construction and professor of Construction Innovation at Edinburgh Napier University