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Written question asked by Lord Redwood (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 May 2006. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Thursday, 4 May 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Departmental Fuel Efficiency

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken in the last 12 months to make his Department more fuel efficient.
Answer

The Home Office is committed to achieving the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate energy targets; namely to reduce absolute carbon, from fuel and electricity used in buildings on our estate, by 12.5 per cent. by 2010–11, relative to 1999–2000 and to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings on our estate, measured in terms of kWh of fuel and electricity use per square metre of buildings floor area by 15 per cent. over the same period. To meet these targets the Department is benchmarking key office sites to identify those buildings which are high energy users.The contract at our London HQ building at 2Marsham street requires our PFI partner to operate the building at 10 per cent. below the best practice benchmark contained in the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme Energy Use in Offices Guide.In 2005–06 the Prison Service funded a number of energy saving projects with a total value of £512,760. Work included extension of building management systems at the following establishments; Askham Grange, Belmarsh, Castington, Coldingley, Lewes and Preston. Automatic lighting controls were installed at Belmarsh, Brockhill, Cardiff, Hewell Grange, Parkhurst and Swansea.A number of business groups on the core office estate have undertaken awareness raising programmes on energy conservation and improving energy efficiency. Specific actions have been taken by local property centre managers including replacement of lighting with energy efficient bulbs in large office buildings; reducing the number of lighting units required; and requiring security personnel to ensure lights are switched off when they conduct their evening patrols.Overall, the Department has achieved an 11 per cent. reduction in total energy consumption since the baseline year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
67454; 445 c1837-9W;445 c1837-9W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Energy Home Office
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk