A new study into the energy efficiency market – encompassing solar panels, wall insulation, smarter boilers etc. - has found that investment in training, public awareness and innovation of industry business models are vital for the sector’s longevity and growth.
The report was commissioned by the Supply Chain Insight Group – a collaborative effort from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, SummitSkills, Building Futures and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). It was independently researched by Skyblue Research.
The report’s insights will contribute to the Bonfield Review, a Government-commissioned assessment of current domestic energy policy. Due out in March 2016, the Review will look at industry standards, consumer protection and enforcement of energy efficiency schemes.
Released today, the Trust and Certainty Report looks at the challenges for industry and government in developing the energy efficiency market. The report recommends three key priority areas that can help stabilise the energy efficiency market. These include:
- Tackling energy-related skills deficiencies in the workforce by investing in training. Gaps in knowledge are a significant barrier to the market’s growth.
- Inspiring innovation within the industry: developing new business models to stimulate client demand will help achieve sustainable growth.
- Educating industry and consumers about the benefits of efficient energy use and helping more people adopt energy efficient practices.
Taking into consideration the views of employers, key market players and the findings of over 200 pieces of existing work, the Trust and Certainty Report is a robust evidence base from which industry and policy makers can plan a successful future for energy efficiency.
Gillian Econopouly, Head of Policy at the CITB, says: “This report brings together all the existing evidence on energy efficiency, and will be used as a reference point for the further development of clean energy policy. We look forward to working with industry, government and the education sector to develop the skills we need to make this happen.”
The findings of the Trust and Certainty Report have the potential to help with the development of solutions to stabilise the energy efficiency market and inspire the development of industry-led policy.