The new Energy Efficiency Taskforce is chaired by Minister Lord Callanan and NatWest CEO Alison Rose, and has a clear target to support cutting energy use in the UK down by 15 per cent by 2030, from 2021 levels.

Its members include chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt, and the head of Britain’s biggest house builder, Barratt chief David Thomas.

For the time being, these are the only two mainstream construction experts, with other leading figures coming from the University of Salford, the Green Industries Council and National Energy Action group.

Energy Efficiency Taskforce

• David Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Barratt Developments
• David Halpern, Chief Executive Officer, Behavioural Insights Team
• Graham Bell, Chief Executive Officer, B&Q
• Mitesh Dhanak, Chief Executive Officer, Cenergist
• Laura Sandys, Chair, Government’s Energy Digitalisation Taskforce
• Professor Will Swan, Director, Energy House Laboratories at University of Salford
• Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive Officer, Energy UK
• Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Green Finance Institute
• Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO, Liebreich Associates
• Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK
• Adam Scorer, Chief Executive Officer, National Energy Action
• Sir John Armitt, Chair, National Infrastructure Commission
• Carl Ennis, Chief Executive, Siemens plc
• David Postings, Chief Executive Officer, UK Finance
• Simon McWhirter, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, UK Green Building Council

The Taskforce has been charged with devising a workplan to help reduce total UK energy demand by 15% across domestic and commercial buildings and industrial process – while cutting bills and helping push down inflation.

This will include accelerating household insulation and boiler upgrades.

As the work of the Taskforce progresses, it will also look at ways of drawing on the expertise of a wider group of stakeholders.

The Government said the taskforce brought together a vast wealth of knowledge to deliver on the government’s ambitious commitments, which in turn will help grow the economy, create new jobs and cut bills for people across the country.

Responding to industry’s call for long-term funding certainty to help strengthen UK supply chains, £6bn of government funding will be available from 2025 to support this objective, in addition to the £6.6bn allocated this Parliament – taking the total to £12.6 billion this decad

The Energy Efficiency Taskforce was first announced by the Chancellor in last year’s Autumn Statement and has been established to support a step change in the reduction of energy demand through accelerated delivery of energy efficiency measures across the economy.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: “We have scoured the UK’s industry to amass a top team of the best and brightest, and I am excited to learn from the unique expertise that each member brings to the table.”