Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust

The Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust were set up with the shared goal of helping to reduce carbon emissions by influencing consumer, and public and private sector business behaviour including in homes, businesses, buildings, and in transport and travel. The Carbon Trust's role is to help the UK move to a low carbon economy by helping business and the public sector reduce carbon emissions now and capture the commercial opportunities of low carbon technologies. The Energy Saving Trust provides information, support and funding about energy efficient housing, transport and developing low carbon vehicle technology.

The Carbon Trust can help local authorities look at the energy efficiency of their own buildings and activities, offering advice at both a strategic level and with practical and innovative approaches, including a Carbon Management Programme. The Carbon Trust also has information available to help employees take individual actions in work such as switching off computers. Finally it is piloting an energy efficiency financing scheme for local authorities.  For more information telephone 0800 085 2005 or go to the website.

The Energy Saving Trust advises on energy efficiency in housing, fleet efficiency, cleaner fuels and vehicles, at both a strategic and an operational level. Local energy support teams are currently available in about half of the UK to directly support local authority initiatives and to help them attract funding. Additionally local authorities can work with the Energy Saving Trust to reinforce the messages to consumers about energy saving in national campaigns in conjunction with the national network of Energy Advice Centres.

Information on housing and transport is accessible from the Energy Saving Trust home page. Local authorities should call 0844 84 888 30, or the transport helpline on 0845 602 1425.

Together the Energy Saving Trust and Carbon Trust present a co-ordinated offering to local authorities. This presents a complete solution to climate change mitigation that covers both local authority's own estate and their wider responsibility for their housing stock and transport.