Friendsof the Earth Scotland today (Thursday 22 March) welcomed plansannounced by the First Minister, Jack McConnell, that will furtherencourage the use of renewable energy in Scotland. [1]

In what amounts to a campaign success for the environmental group, the First
Minister backed the increased use of micropower technologies - such asdomestic solar panels and biomass boilers - by setting new targets fortheir use in Scottish homes and offices. [2]

Theplans will ensure that all new building developments over 500 squaremetres must have at least 15% of their energy needs embedded on-sitefrom renewable sources.

Friends of the Earth Scotland's energy campaigner, Liz Murray said:

"Tackling energy use in buildings is vital if we are to address theproblem of climate change. We therefore welcome action to ensure thatmany more homes and offices in Scotland will in the future be able togenerate their own pollution-free energy.

"Thetarget set is a good starting point for reducing emissions and it isvital that this rises quickly if the full potential of micropower is tobe realised. There are a number of councils in England that havealready shown that this is possible. [3]

"Wewill now be watching closely to see that this policy is included in alllocal authority development plans and that it is taken up by developersand builders.

"Inorder to tackle the growing threat from climate change it is vital thatMinisters continue to dismantle the barriers to the take up ofmicropower technologies. The next step must be for the Executive tosimplify the planning rules in order to make the installation ofmicropower easier for people. To make a real difference, it needs tobecome as easy to install a micropower device to a home as it is to fita satellite dish."

Since2004 Friends of the Earth Scotland and the Association for theConservation of Energy have been leading the push for the increased useof micropower and energy efficiency in Scotland. Together the twogroups have been campaigning for:

• tighter building regulations to ensure that buildings waste less energy; 
  
• simpler planning rules to make installation of micropower easier;
  
• better grant funding to bring the cost down;
  
• developers to install micropower as standard in all new homes; and
  
• the Scottish Executive to set ambitious targets for small-scale renewable energy generation across Scotland.
  

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Scottish Executive today published the findings of its consultation
in to planning and renewables - known as SPP6. On micropower it says:

36. Development plans should set out local policies on the provision of
on-site low carbon and renewable sources of energy in new developments.
Policies should ensure that, in all instances, opportunities for
incorporating these technologies are fully explored by developers as part of
the planning application process. The expectation should be that all future
applications proposing development with a total cumulative floorspace of 500
sq metres or more should incorporate on-site zero and low carbon equipment
contributing at least an extra 15% reduction in CO2 emissions beyond the
2007 building regulations carbon dioxide emissions standard. The intention
is for national targets to increase through the Action Plan that will be
prepared to implement the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy. In
the meantime, the development plan process should be used to consider
whether local circumstances justify going beyond 15%; below the 500 sq
metres threshold; and whether higher standards can be secured for particular
developments, including the potential for decentralised energy supply
systems based on renewable and low-carbon energy.

Details: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/22084213/15

[2]Micropower, or microgeneration, is the production of energy on thesmallest of scales, for individual buildings or communities. Micropowertechnologies emit low amounts of carbon dioxide, or in some cases, nocarbon dioxide at all, whilst allowing consumers to generate their ownheat and/or electricity.

Accordingto the Energy Saving Trust by 2050 micropower could provide 30 to 40per cent of the county's total electricity needs, while cutting carbondioxide emissions by 15 per cent per year.

[3]The 'Merton Rule' (so called after Merton Borough Council, where it wasfirst introduced) requires all new developments to reduce predicted CO2emissions through on-site micropower or combined heat and power (CHP)by a certain percentage.

The 'Merton Rule' has been implemented by more than 80 local authorities in England.

Further information on the 'Merton Rule': http://themertonrule.org