I. Title of the Best Practice

II. Overview of the Best Practice

A. Purpose of the Energy Saving Trust and details of programmes
1. Purpose - to create new programmes to promote the efficient use of energy.
The Energy Saving Trust was established in 1992 by the government and the energy companies to develop new programmes to promote the efficient use of energy following the liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets. The Trust runs a set of programmes funded by the Government which focus on the domestic and small and medium industrial sectors. The programmes aim to improve awareness of energy efficiency, provide information and advice and work with the market to develop energy efficient goods and services. The Trust attracts considerable additional funding from other sources such as industry for its programmes, which aim to become self-sustaining in the long term.

2. The Trust is encouraged to act as an enabler in energy efficiency.
The Government has asked the Trust to concentrate on programmes which maintain the infrastructure of energy efficiency. These programmes include:

• an integrated branding and marketing campaign to promote energy efficiency including television and press advertising and a telephone hotline;
• a network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres to provide impartial advice to consumers in the domestic and small business sectors;
• the Energy Efficiency Partnership for homes, which is a partnership of all those with an interest in promoting energy efficiency in the domestic sector, providing a framework for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in this sector;
• a programme to encourage local authorities to develop and implement innovative energy efficiency initiatives;
• pilot schemes to encourage the development of energy services, rather than the sale of energy alone.

In addition the Trust runs programmes which aim to stimulate markets by offering cash incentives for cavity wall insulation, efficient central heating, energy efficient lighting and small scale Combined Heat and Power. The Trust also runs a programme to promote the use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels such as natural gas, liquid propane gas and electricity and a programme to promote energy efficiency in schools.

B. Reasons for inclusion as a Best Practice
1. Programmes are designed to achieve significant carbon savings.
The Trust's programmes are assessed on their potential carbon savings and cost effectiveness per tonne of carbon and carbon dioxide saved and monitored against these during the year. Programmes are required to demonstrate significant potential benefits for energy efficiency as well as overall environmental benefits. Estimated energy savings this year total 1,000 GWh alongside 66,000 tonnes of carbon. The Trust is expected to save about 0.5 million tonnes of carbon per year in the year 2000.

2. Challenging and emerging approaches are being used.
Programmes are required to be innovative and not to overlap or duplicate the work of others. They are also required to avoid providing support for companies and individuals who would be undertaking the measures as a normal matter of course regardless of the Trust's activities. Ministers have stressed that they see the future direction of the Trust's work as being on the cutting edge of energy efficiency.

3. The Trust can contribute to the formation of future policies to prevent climate change
The Trust is facilitating the Energy Efficiency Partnership for homes which is providing a framework to bring together partners across all sectors with an interest in promoting domestic energy efficiency. The membership includes key players in the implementation of the Government's domestic energy efficiency policy. Partners are encouraged to work together both within sectoral working groups and shared interest groups. The partners will maximise their contribution towards the Government's developing climate change programme by setting objectives and developing strategies for achieving them.

4. The Trust's programmes are useful for consideration by social actors other than G8 countries implementing domestic initiatives in developed countries.
Some of the Trust's programmes would be suitable for consideration in other countries with a similar climate. The approach of using a body such as the Trust to develop and take forward programmes may also be suitable for other administrations.

5. The Trust's programmes can be evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively.
The programmes are monitored against a set of appropriate measures. For example the Cavity Wall Insulation Scheme is monitored against the number of installations completed. Each programme also contains a set of targets for carbon and carbon dioxide reduction and the cost effectiveness of these. Broader considerations such as the effect of the programme on the market are also taken into account.

6. The Trust's programmes utilise local know-how and experience.
The Trust works with industry in developing their programmes. They are also establishing a database of energy efficiency professionals in different industries in each local area to whom they can refer enquirers. The Trust's network of local Energy Efficiency Advice Centres are able to deal with local enquiries and recommend local solutions.

C. Problems and their Solutions
Some programmes have had a slow take-up and have had to be revised or abandoned. The Trust however continues to review programmes to seek the most effective approach. Future activity is likely to develop through the facilitation of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for homes.

III. Categorizing the Best Practice

1. Classification(s) (Indicate main classification(s) only.)
( X ) Regulatory Approach (Policy approaches - regulations, incentives etc)
( X ) Practical Action (Action undertaken independently by a social actor)
( X ) Social Network Mechanism (Cooperative structure)

2. Social Actor(s) involved (Indicate main social actors only.)
( X ) Citizens
( X) Central government
( X) Local government
( X) Business

3. Sector(s) (Indicate main sector(s) only.)
( X ) Energy
( X ) Household
( X ) Transportation
( ) Industrial Enterprises
( X ) Other (Non-Industrial) Business
( ) Agriculture/Land Use/Forestry
( ) Other (Please specify.)

4. Target Greenhouse Gas(es)
( X ) CO2
( ) CH4
( ) N2O
( ) HFC
( ) PFC
( ) SF6
( ) Other (Please specify.)

IV. List of Attachments

Copy of the guidelines for company reporting on greenhouse gas emissions

V. Please indicate a person to contact for more information about this Best Practice.

Contact Person:	Miss K A Chislett
Title:	Policy Officer
Organization:	Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
Email:	katharine_chislett@detr.gsi.gov.uk
Tel:	44 171 890 6648
Fax:	44 171 890 6679
Address:	Zone 6/H15, Ashdown House,123 Victoria Street,London,SW1E 6DE