Scottish Government Comes Under Fire For Poor Energy Efficiency

Online, January 6, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Liam McArthur MSP has criticised the Scottish Government for failing to act in a manner that will help inspire the general public and could cause potential harm to environment as well as the country's financial welfare.

McArthur commented: "The SNP government's efforts to get its own house in order on energy efficiency have practically ground to a halt. Meanwhile, the story is little better in terms of the number of government buildings with microgeneration technologies installed.

"Time is not on our side here. If we want to tackle climate change and be taken seriously as an advocate of renewable energy and energy efficiency then the Scottish Government must lead by example.

"After all, an energy efficient government estate is also a cost effective one. Better insulation, efficient central heating and installing microgeneration technologies such as solar panels all save money in the long term. SNP Ministers, however, seem curiously unwilling to match their words with action on energy efficiency and microgeneration.

"Not a single government building has a top rating for energy performance, and two have the worst rating possible. This hardly provides inspirational leadership for businesses and households across Scotland.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats have been happy to support the SNP government in sending out a positive message on energy efficiency and microgeneration, but Ministers must start upping their game on this vital issue.

"It says much about the lack of progress over the last twelve months that the Minister has been able to simply refer me to the same answers he gave this time last year. That alone should stir the Minister from any complacency and persuade him of the need for proper action over the course of the next twelve months."

This criticism follows the revelation from Energy Minister Fergus Ewing that only 4.8% of Scottish Government buildings have microgeneration technologies installed. Furthermore, there has been no progress in the attempt to improve the Energy Performance Certificates of these buildings.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) demonstrate the energy efficiency of a building. The certificates detail how much energy is being used by a property in waste. Using the latest technologies such as Thermal Imaging, building surveyors can determine how and where the energy efficiency of a property can be improved and the money that can be saved by doing so.