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ACE director Andrew Warren believes that unless the government makes a real commitment to energy efficiency, by making targets part of future legislation, then industry will not be inclined to take the issue seriously. "The feedback we are trying to give government is that people in our industry have heard all this before. There have been government statements on energy efficiency, but legislation hasn't followed." Warren says that without efficiency targets set by law, manufacturers will be unwilling to invest in development of energy efficiency technology.

The Energy White Paper states that energy efficiency is "likely to be the cheapest, cleanest and safest way of addressing all four objectives" of the government's energy policy. The Performance and Innovation Unit and the Sustainable Development Commission also recommended a 20% energy efficiency improvement by 2010. Yet no targets are set in the White Paper, a state of affairs which the ACE says 'defies logic'.

The ACE is encouraging people to write to their MPs and urge them to contact relevant ministers such as Brian Wilson, Patricia Hewitt and Margaret Beckett. MPs should also be encouraged to sign Early Day Motions 148 and 910. Other suggestions include asking local councils to support the call for energy efficiency targets. For more information see the ACE website www.ukace.org