ESTA VIEWPOINT
For further information on ESTA visit www.estaenergy.org.uk
COVID-19 can offer hope for change Never flinch, never weary, never despair.* Jes Rutter looks forward to what the UK must prioritise on the road to meeting its net-zero ambitions, including one overlooked sector
M
y time as chair of ESTA’s Independent Energy Consultants group (IECg) has been far from dull. At times rewarding, demanding, frustrating and exciting – and sometimes all at once. My four-year term comes to an end shortly in challenging circumstances that are very much in mind as I consider a future in which I know that organisations such as ESTA will continue to play a crucial role. I would first like to thank everyone who has supported me in my role for the last four years! Particular thanks go to Andrew Park who has been vice chair during this time. Though four years is the maximum time to serve as chair, I have been asked to remain in post until the ESTA AGM that has been delayed to 3rd September due to COVID-19. The good news is that during this time IECg has seen an increase in membership by 35 per cent. This was one of 15 objectives set in June 2016 of which almost 90 per cent have been achieved, with two on-going. The bad news is that this period has coincided with the four hottest years on record (not my fault). I do worry for the future of our planet, more so about resource depletion and clean air (and waters) than the often cited ‘climate change.’ The world will survive climate change, it’s just that we might not! If we do, the world for our future generations will be very different as they will have to adapt. Though not quite yet accomplished, one of the IECg’s significant achievements has been around behaviour change, with the creation of the Energy Conscious Organisation initiative, EnCO. Not least has been the significant work showing that as a contribution to fighting climate change, technology alone can only achieve 50 per cent of the savings potential required. A massive world-changing 50 per cent that needs to be addressed is
‘The Covid-19 lockdown has given us an immensely powerful real-life case study of the positive changes that can result when people’s behaviour changes’ from people/behaviour change/EnCO, a fact that is largely being ignored, certainly by Government where the strategy of pumping money into technology solutions alone is flawed. While technology solutions get 99.9 per cent of Government funding, we have been struggling for the last two years to get any funding to support end user organisations to implement EnCO behaviour change projects. There is also the need to train energy specialists in how to deliver EnCO projects and to build the skill sets required to deliver projects where skills and techniques other than energy expertise are vital. ESTA member courses start on 2nd July with the first of four modules, but the intention is to then roll this out beyond ESTA to interested parties. The mantra also used by EnCO, ‘LeanClean-Green’ as the hierarchy to prioritise the tackling of climate change has never
Jes Rutter is outgoing chair of ESTA’s Independent Energy Consultants group (IECg) and Managing Director of JRP Solutions
been truer than now and energy efficiency (i.e. non-consumption) of which behaviour is a major part, must be prioritised by Government. The COVID-19 lockdown has given us an immensely powerful real-life case study of the positive changes that can result when people’s behaviour changes. I believe that the post COVID-19 opportunity to put energy efficiency first is, literally, a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. The Government has declared its intentions by becoming the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050, but this is only the beginning and so much more needs to be done by Government if we are to achieve our net zero GHG emissions targets. It is critical to get the initial planning right, so while starting now is important, rushing in with ill-conceived targets is counterproductive. Looking forward to the next four years, to get the groundwork right to achieve Net Zero GHG by 2050, there are some significant changes that I would like to see: • ESOS (UK) having teeth with legislation driving implementation of all energy reduction projects with simple paybacks of less than two years; • eligibility for the new UK ETS organisations to require ISO 50001 certification; • all organisations to be obliged to have a net-zero strategy with an implementation plan; • all net-zero strategies and implementation plans to include behaviour change (EnCO); and • an expansion of the Paris Agreement to include more countries, including the superpowers, and the re-commitment to an environmental agenda by the USA. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as IECg Chair, and I wish my successor good fortune. Fortitude will certainly be a key skill required. I intend to continue as EnCO lead and continue the battle to get behaviour accepted as a major contributor to achieving net zero until good sense is confirmed and progress made. * “The day may dawn when fair play, love for one’s fellow-men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth serene and triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair.” Sir Winston Churchill’s last great speech to the House of Commons.
22 | ENERGY IN BUILDINGS & INDUSTRY | JULY / AUGUST 2020
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