This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Business sense in energy efficiency
20/02/2002
The recently announced Energy Review is of great importance to Scotland, the Scottish Energy and Environment Conference in Glasgow was told today.
Deputy Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"It is only right that Scotland has its own Energy and Environment Conference and I hope this will become a regular fixture in the exhibition calendar.
"The timing is also right as the Prime Minister has just published the Energy Review, which provides us with a fresh opportunity to look at energy issues in Scotland. I was particularly pleased to see that the immediate priorities for action are for much more emphasis on energy efficiency, and higher targets for renewable energy.
"Energy costs are sometimes the easiest to reduce and every pound saved on energy bills can help to make companies more profitable.
"Businesses can do a lot to help themselves. They can also get a lot of support from the Scottish Energy Efficiency Office (SEEO). SEEO provides advice, loans and practical help and I would encourage Scottish businesses to contact them."
The Prime Minister announced the report of the Energy Review on 15 February. The Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) had been charged with the task of undertaking a review of the longer term, strategic issues surrounding energy policy for the UK, within the context of meeting the challenge of global warming, while ensuring reliable and competitive energy supplies. The aim of the review was to set out the objectives of energy policy and develop a strategy that ensures current policy commitments are consistent with longer-term goals.
Among the recommendations of the Energy Review were:-
- the immediate priorities of energy policy are likely to be most cost effectively served by promoting energy efficiency and expanding the role of renewable energy;
- in these areas, new targets should be set (a 20% improvement in energy efficiency in the domestic sector by 2010, and a further 20% improvement by 2020; and a UK target for renewable energy of 20% by 2020)
The Scottish Energy Efficiency Office (SEEO) of the Scottish Executive is the main provider of energy efficiency advice to business and the public sector in Scotland. The SEEO encourages the take up of a broad base of energy efficient technologies, which will lead to reduced CO 2 emissions as well as cash savings to users. They can be contacted on 0141 242 5835.