The energy efficiency policies for buildings in the country are not developed enough to boost the transition to a low carbon economy.

That’s the view of Professor Phil Jones from Cardiff University who told ELN: “In the UK we have policies on energy efficiency specially in the built environment. The question is will they enable the transition to a low carbon economy quick enough in relation to climate change, security of energy supply and to resolve pollution?

“I think our buildings regulations and another regulations that are used to implement energy efficiency policy are not developing fast enough.”

The professor was speaking at Horizon 2020 a conference for academics held at Brunel University looking at energy efficiency issues.

He added: “We seem to be lagging behind other countries at the moment and although we have long term targets for carbon dioxide reductions in energy efficiency, our shorter term mechanisms are being pushed back into the future.”

Professor Jones believes new mechanisms are needed to implement policies into practice and achieve the EU green targets: “Our policy is really determined by the European Union policy. In terms of the 2020 targets, the 2030 targets and the longer term 2050 targets, it is how these policies are implemented into practice through regulations and through incentives and that’s where the delay is I think.

“We don’t so much need new policy, we need new mechanisms to get the policy implemented into practice.”

The academic believes that a possible UK exit from the EU could also be negative for the energy efficiency sector in the nation and the country’s transition to a low carbon energy system.

He concluded: “If Britain exits from the EU I’m sure that it will affect our energy policy, I think that if we don’t have to comply with European directives then we will slip behind. I think we need to be part of the European Union to really push the low carbon agenda forward.”