Policy update: Assessing energy use

Nick Blyth, policy and practice lead on climate change at IEMA, on the development of IEMA's response to Decc's consultation on implementing the Energy Efficiency Directive

Decc is consulting on its energy savings opportunity scheme (ESOS), which implements article 8 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) (the EED).

The scheme will require all large enterprises to complete energy audits every four years. IEMA recently held two workshops and a webinar to gather the views of members ahead of formulating its response to the consultation. Views include:

Practitioners recognise the value energy efficiency audits can offer, especially for enterprises not caught by wider energy and carbon regulation. However, the ESOS will add further to an already crowded energy/carbon policy landscape.

Many acknowledge that certification to ISO 14001 will not automatically address the audit requirements for large enterprises in article 8 of the EED. Nonetheless, 14001 is used effectively by many organisations for energy efficiency, especially if supported by additional energy reviews and assessments.

The proposals rely on ensuring lead energy assessors meet a certain “standard”, and the aim is to support this by developing a new publicly available specification (PAS).

Many feel this process will ensure wide engagement from industry and practitioners – that is, it is not left to a small group of professional bodies. Also, there is a desire for the new PAS to be made freely available to all enterprises affected by the regulations.

Many participants warn that there is likely to be a shortage of energy assessors, particularly initially. Concerns are around both the quality of assessors and their availability, with calls for investment in training.

IEMA’s full response to the ESOS consultation will soon be available to read on iema.net.