Area based targeting: Providing evidence to support public-private partnership in energy efficiency projects

Policy context in the UK is focused increasingly on achieving ambitious carbon dioxide emission reductions, highlighted by the commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. The domestic sector contributes to approximately 30% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and there is increasing focus on the role of Local Authorities as key actors, expected to develop partnerships with businesses and community organisations to facilitate delivery and promote domestic energy efficiency strategies. To date there has been a lack of studies into the role that Local Authorities can and should play, as well as the capabilities for them to perform this role. Through evaluating existing academic and policy literature and conducting interviews with 13 Local Authorities and 2 Energy Efficiency service firms across England between March 2011 and January 2014, we consider how data provisions and guidance provided to Local Authorities aid Local Authorities in implementing energy efficiency schemes and measuring outcomes is assessed, and the extent to which Local Authorities are able to satisfy the diverse range of stakeholders in energy efficiency policies. This role of Local Authorities as management organisations in energy efficiency policies is historically under researched, but has the potential to integrate social and economic development criteria into projects. We conclude that the high value of the energy efficiency retrofitting service offers Local Authorities opportunities to deliver benefits to the local economy, as well as improving the condition of their housing and ultimately reducing residential energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.