Housing Act 2004 (England and Wales)

This Act sets out the requirement for Home Information Packs (HIPs) for all dwellings when they are sold as part of the implementation of the EPBD, as well as a target to improve domestic energy efficiency by 20% by 2010, compared to 2000 levels. It replaced the Fitness Standard as an element of the Decent Homes Standard in England. 

CERT

In July 2009, the Government announced its response to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) consultations. This announcement set out the detailed plans relating to the extension of the CERT targets by 20% for the period 2008 to 2011 and for implementation of CESP.

On CERT:

• An estimated 60% of the total funding available under the enhanced scheme will go to low income and elderly householders
• An increase in the amount suppliers are able to devote to innovative measures, such as microgeneration and solid wall insulation - from 6% to up to 10% of their total target (In line with original proposals)
• There will be a removal of direct mail-outs of low energy light bulbs from 1st January 2010 (these will still be available at discounted prices at retail outlets)

CESP

Up to 100 community schemes are to be set up, benefiting around 90,000 homes and delivering savings of nearly 2.9m tonnes of CO2 by December 2012 (in line with original proposals).

• There will be a promotion of partnership working between the energy companies and local authorities and community groups (in line with original proposals)
• There are predicted savings of about £330 per year on the energy bills of householders who receive help. Energy generators will be obliged to take part for the first time (in line with original proposals)

The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to eradicating fuel poverty in the most vulnerable households by 2010.

Home and Energy Saving Strategy

The Government's Heat and Energy Saving Strategy sets out an aim for emissions from existing buildings to be approaching zero by 2050. This means increasing the scope and ambition of energy saving measures, as well as decarbonising the generation and supply of heat. To support this, it sets out the following key policy proposals:

• All homes to have received by 2030 a 'whole house' package including all cost-effective energy saving measures, plus renewable heat and electricity measures as appropriate. All lofts and cavity walls will be insulated where practical by 2015
• Comprehensive information and advice to be made available to help people make changes to save energy and save money - including widespread availability of home energy advice by accredited advisers
• Development of new ways to provide financial support so people can make more substantial energy saving and renewable energy improvements to their homes through mechanisms that allow costs to be more than offset by energy bill savings
• Consideration of whether a new delivery model is needed, to allow a more coordinated approach to rolling out improvements to homes and communities, house-by-house and street-by-street
• Consideration of widening requirements under Building Regulations to carry out energy saving measures alongside certain types of building work, and consideration of a new voluntary code of practice with the building trade on energy efficiency and low carbon energy
• A new focus on district heating in suitable communities and removing barriers to their development
• Encouragement of combined heat and power and better use of surplus heat through carbon pricing mechanisms

Taken together, the policies in this consultation will aim to reduce annual emissions by up to 44 million tonnes of CO2 in 2020 - the equivalent of a 30% reduction in emissions from households compared to 2006 - making a significant contribution to meeting our carbon budgets.

The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to eradicating fuel poverty in the most vulnerable households in all households by 2018 via the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (energy efficiency grants and advice for those in receipt of benefits).

Climate Change Act 2008

This piece of legislation introduced a legally binding target of at least an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be achieved through action in the UK and abroad.

There is also to be a reduction in emissions of at least 34% by 2020. (Both these targets are against a 1990 baseline.) 

• The Act introduced a carbon budgeting system which caps emissions over five-year periods
• It created the Committee on Climate Change, a new independent, expert body to advise Government on the level of carbon budgets and where cost effective savings can be made
• Further measures are to reduce emissions including powers to introduce domestic emissions trading schemes more quickly and easily through secondary legislation
• It provides new powers to support the creation of the Community Energy Savings Programme (by extending the existing Carbon Emissions Reduction Target scheme to electricity generators)
• The Act also included provision of advice by Government to companies on GHG emissions reporting

Climate Change (Scotland) Bill 2009

This Bill introduces a statutory target to reduce Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050. 

It also establishes an interim target of at least 42 per cent emissions reductions by 2020, with a power for this to be varied based on expert advice from the UK.

Other aspects of the Climate Change Bill include:

• A framework of annual targets
• Providing for householders to get a reduction of up to £250 on their Council Tax if they install insulation or small scale renewables