Funding aims to boost energy efficiency research in UK

Five new End Use Energy Demand (EUED) research centres that will look into the complexities of energy use across society and how energy can be both saved and used more efficiently, are to receive more than £26m funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), with a further £13m being awarded from industrial partners. Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker said: "We have now put energy efficiency at the very heart of the government's energy policy. Using energy more wisely is absolutely vital in a world of increased pressure on resources and rising prices. Not only can energy efficiency help save money on bills and cut emissions, it can support green jobs, innovation and enterprise. Barker said the new EUED centres would play an important role in improving understanding of how energy is used across the nation, and help researchers learn more about what needs to be done to change consumer and business behaviour. Professor David Delpy, EPSRC's chief executive, added: "We had a tremendous response from the academic community to this call. In all 38 proposals were submitted and many displayed unique approaches. The five centres chosen were considered to have best demonstrated that they could develop internationally leading research and apply it to help meet the government's 2050 challenges."