Thumbs up for Greater Efficiency

12 December 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

Local authorities have been scored on energy efficiency by a new insulation index

A new pilot tool that has assessed and scored 25 local authorities in England on their efforts to improve energy efficiency, has been launched by Knauf Insulation.

The Local Authority Energy Efficiency Index is supported by the UK Green Building Council, and allows officials, councillors and other interested parties, to measure their work on energy efficiency against other areas, and find ways to overcome barriers they may be facing.

The Index also offers each individual authority potential strategies to improve energy management in their area based on their current score.

The 25 local authorities cover a range of metropolitan, London and unitary bodies, as well as a range of geographies and diverse socio-economic conditions. They have been scored on a number of indicators, including energy efficiency in the community and housing, as well as energy management within their own buildings and the energy infrastructure that they oversee.

The top five performing local authorities were: Southampton, Kingston-upon-Hull, Peterborough, Leeds and Coventry.

“Councils are often at the frontline of delivering energy services, and tend to be trusted by residents and businesses,” said John Alker, Director of Policy and Communications, UK Green Building Council, speaking at the official launch. “Many have done this extremely well, with very little resources. This Index not only praises those leading local authorities, but by highlighting best practice and exploring barriers, it offers advice and strategies for those councils eager to make greater progress.”

Mr Alker believed that central government should support this kind of development by seeing councils as a “route through which to deliver capital investment in the energy efficiency of our built environment”.

Pictured: Leeds was one of the local authorities that finished in the top five in the Knauf insulation index for energy efficiency

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 12 December 2014