Brian Rowntree Vice President CECODHAS 6 th March 2007

Proposals Social Housing Providers to act as brokers to procure cheaper energy for tenants Social housing providers to do own internal certification of buildings/ houses Evaluate Certification Scheme before extending it further Zero rate VAT for improvements identified – partly offset costs of certification process

Fuel Poverty Proposals Set target that poor energy efficiency is removed as a cause of fuel poverty – already happens in UK Deliver through municipalities or local authorities – make them Home Energy Conservation Authorities – with annual progress reports Winter Fuel Payments – fuel vouchers rather than cash

Role of Energy Suppliers More stringent licence requirements in regulated markets e.g. minimum efficiency standards, transparency on prices, etc… Establish energy efficiency levy schemes similar to those in GB and NI

Renewable Energy Proposals Make them mandatory in new dwellings - happening in NI from April 2008 Establish Renewable Energy Fund to kick start market – fund exists in NI Remove or streamline regulatory process – make some “permitted development” Remove barriers to selling surplus energy into the grid

Financial Incentives Zero rate VAT for energy improvements Energy Efficiency Levy to fund works Structural Funds should be used for; - Capital costs of energy efficiency works - Replacing old community heating systems with higher efficiency plant - R & D on new solutions or pilot schemes - Assisting work of Energy Experts Forum

Energy Experts Network EU can use expertise of network as a sounding board for new policies Network can give feedback on pilot schemes for dissemination across EU EU could fund development of network e.g. secretariat costs EU could help fund sharing of expertise between countries e.g. to help replicate successful approaches across EU