Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Thursday, 21 May 2009.

Energy: Heating

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to the review by the National Audit Office of the data collected by the Building Research Establishmentand published in March 2007 by the Sustainable Development Commission, why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) laboratories in 2005–06 used nearly 60 per cent of their energy for heating and Defra itself over 50 per cent; and what steps they have taken to reduce energy used for heating.

Answer: Heat generation is the most significant element of energy consumption by the UK service sector (including government). In 2007, it accounted for 68 per cent of total energy consumption. The Defra laboratory estate generates heat for use in essential laboratory processes as well as for space heating. A significant quantity of this heat is generated using highly efficient combined heat and power plants and from energy recovery from other processes, such as incineration. The Defra office estate uses heat primarily for space heating only. Defra has a programme in place to deliver further energy savings across its estate, with initiatives specifically targeted at reducing heat demand. in 2007 a maximum space heating set point of 21 degrees was introduced across the estate; three gas-fired combined heat and power plants have been installed on the estate which provide 17 per cent of the Defra's electricity and heat. Further CHP installations are currently undergoing feasibility studies; technologies have been implemented on laboratory sites which recover heat and create electricity from laboratory processes; and thermal imaging and building energy surveys have been undertaken across the estate which identified potential opportunities for improving the thermal efficiency of the buildings. These projects are currently being prioritised for implementation during summer/autumn 2009. "1 BERR: Estimates of heat use in the UK: June 2007.www.berr.gov.uk/files/file43843.pdf"

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3632; 710 c355-6WA
Session: 2008-09
Subjects: Conservation Consumption Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Energy Heating Government laboratories
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk