The government's new energy efficiency strategy has met with a less than enthusiastic response. Echoing what campaigners have been saying for years, Greg Barker announced that investing in energy efficiency could save up to 22 power stations-worth of energy by 2020. In the Energy Efficiency Strategy published yesterday, Barker also said a transformation in the way energy is used across the UK economy could help boost growth and jobs, commenting “We have put energy efficiency at the very heart of the Government’s energy policy. Using energy more wisely is absolutely vital in a world of increased pressure on resources and rising prices. Not only can energy efficiency help save money on bills and cut emissions, it can support green jobs, innovation and enterprise".

Sadly the Strategy was lacking in detail..and several campaign groups were not slow in pointing this out.

Matthew Spencer, Director of Green Alliance, said: “This is a well-intentioned, but seriously under-powered plan for reducing energy bills. Government is right to recognise the vital issue of reducing energy demand, but we need new ideas to address it. The current approach won’t work so Ed Davey must introduce new support for energy saving in the Energy Bill, backed by Treasury in the autumn economic statement.

“Reducing the energy use of our buildings and appliances is the quickest way to put money into people’s pockets this winter and it improves our economic productivity, but it’s still the Cinderella of energy policy. Unfortunately DECC have published a strategy before getting the tools in place to deliver the real potential for energy efficiency.”

Director at WSP Environmental and Energy, David Symons, said: ‘These measures will take time to have an impact. The frustration is that there are plenty of measures that would have a more immediate effect like providing a stamp duty rebate for energy efficiency in homes, or the strengthening, and better enforcing, of building regulations.

‘The projections for savings also need to be considered within context - demand is set to increase significantly, uncertainty typifies renewable investment and the nuclear programme continues to be delayed. These measures should be welcomed but they’re not going to be a silver bullet solution for our energy woes.’