Sustainable Energy Benchmark and Toolkit

This page tells you how to use the Sustainable Energy Benchmark and Toolkit to reduce carbon emissions and use energy more efficiently in your local authority area. It covers:

• how to use this resource  
• who this resource is for
• related resources

How to use this resource

Benchmark

Review your local authority’s current performance by using the self-assessment section in the benchmark to score your energy practice. This will show you which process and policy areas you have addressed, and which you have yet to address more fully.

The elements of the benchmark have been split into three broad roles – 'estate manager', 'service provider' and 'community leader'. When using the benchmark, consider which areas for action will advance or consolidate your sustainable energy practice, by asking yourself:

• what will have the biggest impact in reducing carbon dioxide emissions?
• where is your current performance least effective?
• which areas provide the best opportunities for making improvements?

The Sustainable Energy Benchmark

You can invite colleagues to help complete the benchmark by clicking on the ‘Manage users’ button near the top of the page after the introductory text. 

The button next to it is marked 'Download as PDF'. This allows you to download your council's own updated version of the benchmark as a PDF.

A blank PDF version of the benchmark is also available for those who prefer to do their self-assessment on paper.

Download the PDF version of online sustainable energy benchmark (PDF, 7 pages, 12 KB) 

Once you have reviewed your energy practice and scored yourself, you can use the ‘On Target’ diagram, to chart your current performance and identify your priority areas for action.

You may wish to record your assessment using this diagram (PDF, 1 page, 596KB) 

Toolkit

As you complete the benchmark, you will find specific links to the toolkit from each element of the benchmark in the summary section. These offer guidance and best practice examples of the sustainable energy actions you could take. The toolkit is divided into three sections.

Structures and processes to deliver

Delivering at the local level

Outcomes and targets

Who this resource is for

This resource is a practical tool primarily for use by local authority practitioners responsible for energy and sustainability. It will also be useful for:

• chief officers seeking top-level buy-in from key stakeholders
• heads of service looking at how they can work together to deliver energy solutions and deliver against relevant national performance indicators
• portfolio holders looking at how energy fits into the climate change agenda.

Related resources

Your action on sustainable energy may be part of wider climate change or carbon management strategy. You can also use this toolkit alongside the Nottingham Declaration website.

More on the Nottingham Declaration – on the Nottingham Declaration website

Published February 2009