Our energy use
A record of initiatives to reduce energy consumption in 10 Downing Street and by the central government estate.
10% carbon reduction commitment
On 14 May 2010 the Prime Minister announced that the Coalition Agreement made a commitment to reduce the carbon emission from the central government estate by 10% between 14 May 2010 and 13 May 2011. To this end, the Prime Minister’s Office is continuing to bring about significant reductions in its energy use and associated carbon emissions and costs. The department has been given a target carbon reduction of 11% which equates to 942 tonnes of carbon.
Real-time energy data
The Prime Minister’s Office publishes live information on the energy consumption in Downing Street.
Inter-departmental energy reduction commitment
On the 30 September 2010, the Prime Minister announced an inter-departmental competition to reduce energy consumption, the winner being the department who has made the biggest month-on-month carbon reduction at their main building. The competition has its own page on data.gov.uk.
Energy saving on the Downing Street estate
Under the modernisation, repair and renovation of the building and its infrastructure, initiatives introduced have included the following:
- low-energy motion detection lighting
- more energy efficient boilers and exchangers
- heat from IT equipment used to heat water
- better thermal insulation
- low water use fittings
- rainwater collected and stored for watering the garden
- building management system with utility monitoring
- timber sourced from legal and sustainable sources
- more than 90% of construction waste recycled.
10-12 Downing Street wins sustainable building award
In March 2013, 10-12 Downing Street was named winner of the In-Use Special Award by BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). The building made the most year-on-year improvements of all the 800 buildings in the scheme in the UK.