Commenting on the strategies Mervyn Pilley, Director, ESTA said: “ESTA and its members have been waiting for the publication of the Heat and Buildings, and Net Zero strategies for many months, and whilst we welcome its arrival, we are disappointed that there is little to no focus on demand side energy efficiency, particularly in relation to the non-domestic sector.”

“Using less energy, through the use of existing, long established, energy efficiency solutions should be the start of every Net Zero journey and is very cost effective indeed when measured against the other energy transition and decarbonisation solutions.”

“The Heat and Buildings and Net Zero strategies represent a roadmap, that when supported, by detail, should assist the government and the UK to reach its targets set out in the Climate Change Act. Omitting energy efficiency measures from these strategies, in our opinion, is an error that could cost the UK Net Zero.”

“ESTA believes that greater incentivisation is needed, ideally through the tax system to encourage organisations and businesses to invest in energy efficiency. We also believe that direct government investment at scale in educating installers in the sector is required as a matter of urgency. Many of the installer supply chain comes from SME businesses and their ability to train up new entrants to the green jobs needed around the UK is very limited due to the effects of the economic crisis following the pandemic.”

ESTA will continue to support BEIS in their determination to reach their targets, especially through the newly created Commercial Energy Efficiency Alliance – a new group facilitated by ESTA bringing end user and solution provider representative organisations together.