23 November 2007
Public and private sector organisations are ignoring most energy-saving advice aimed at making them cut their carbon emissions, government auditors said this week.
The National Audit Office examined the work of the Carbon Trust, a company established by the government in 2001 to help both commercial and public sector organisations to reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions.
It revealed that 60% of the organisations that had worked with the Carbon Trust had implemented fewer than half of its recommendations.
Of all the energy-saving measures identified by the trust between 2003 and 2006, less than 40% had been implemented.
The NAO said there were sometimes difficulties in securing commitment from senior management, while competing priorities also presented problems.
A case study cited in the November 22 report shows that North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust did not alter the layout of heat pipes, as recommended, because it would have involved the partial closure of a hospital.
Despite the lack of uptake of much of its advice, the trust was on course to meet its target of securing a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 4.4 million tonnes by 2010, the NAO found. In 2006/07, its work produced a reduction of 2 million tonnes.
Value for money was also being achieved. The direct monetary benefit to organisations that worked with the Carbon Trust last year is estimated to be between £410m and £655m over the lifetime of the carbon savings – more than double the costs of taking up the trust's recommendations.
NAO head Sir John Bourn said: 'The Carbon Trust has done a good job at persuading businesses and public sector organisations to start tackling the problem.
'Its achievement in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in 2006/07 by up to 2 million tonnes is commendable, but it is a small one in view of the scale of the challenge ahead.'
The trust needed to extend its drive to encourage business leaders to review and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, he added.
Carbon Trust chief executive Tom Delay said the report gave the green light for the trust to extend its work. '[It] has some valuable recommendations,' he said.
The report was published as Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in a speech on November 19, announced plans for a new 'green hotline' to advise people on cutting their environmental impact.
He added that Britain's target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 could be made more stringent.
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