Murmurings of industry discontent are beginning to emerge in trade media. Comments which would not have been aired in public a few months ago. Those cargo ships of the publishing world (they’re not really journalists ?), giving vent to frustration felt by many. It can only get worse. The good (them) and the bad (me) have all had their say and I reckon soon we may start to see the ugly (all of us united).

In fairness to the Energy Saving Trust, all they can do is what they are already doing as agents for Her Majesty’s Government. Without the tools to do the job properly they don’t stand a chance. I admit I could not do any better and believe me I try. I may live a more closeted life than most but I did not notice the September “multi-million pound marketing and advertising push”. Actually I’d forgotten about that and had to look the date up in case it was not yet due. I don’t recall being reminded, as I should have been: Merchants barren as always.

Someone’s moved the eggs I noticed on my trip to Tesco yesterday. Seasonal stuff is already disturbing the organisation that I had just managed to figure out. That seasonal stuff included Bob the Builder annuals. I thought that was just a joke but they really exist. Perhaps we need an Eileen the Energysaver annual ? I’m on a writing course at College at the moment and may give some thought to that as a project. Unless Professor David Bellamy wants to start one to supplement his recent outburst on wind-farms.

Most of my time in Freiburg was spent in the company of a gang of German students who had evidently been weaned on energy efficiency. It was part of their psyche. Energy conservation was instinctive. Despite their natural caution with me, being older and foreign, I was unhesitatingly admonished if (when) I inadvertently transgressed taboos, invariably connected with the disposal of packaging materials. Having said that we did empty quite a few bottles.

That is what we need here. A belief. A long and sustained programme of education backed up by investment to reinforce belief in the alleged commitment to energy efficiency. Without that nothing will happen, energy white paper or no energy white paper. We don’t want to hear energy conservation we need to see energy conservation. In Freiburg you can taste it and it actually tastes as good as the beer at their famous Schlapen, take my word for it.

I know I’m on a collision course with hell but so be it. I’ve had enough of waiting. I need to see some tangible proof of central Government commitment. We’re all dressed for the party but the host has done a runner at the last minute. Shame on them.

Issuing a proclamation may have worked in the days of Julius Caesar and his mates, when dissenters would have been lobbed over the wall into the Lion’s den or slung on the nearest bonfire but we are more civilised now, football notwithstanding ? Money talks. Financial proof of commitment is inevitably demanded, so let’s examine the options and be honest, we have to talk serious money, sterling or euros I really don’t mind which.

I can think of no more worthy cause than energy conservation so why all the dithering ? They gave grants years ago to enlarge countless thousands of kitchens and that mostly benefited people who were relatively well off but it spawned aspirations that have not diminished since. I have said it before and don’t apologise for saying it again, we need to see consumers demanding energy efficiency.

We need to be clear about which consumers we are talking about. We also need to be clear about which energy efficiency responses we are talking about. This debate is not just about condensing boilers. Condensing boilers will automatically replace aging stock as a matter of routine. By and large, to consumers a boiler is a boiler. If their existing boiler breaks down, all they’re concerned about is getting everything back online ASAP so they can take a shower and make it on time to the pub.

We’re talking about consumers who own well behaved but grossly inefficient heating systems. No amount of parrot from me, the EST or anyone else will persuade those people to migrate. Yet that is the group we need to address ? The EST Installer Network was doomed to failure for reasons which will be obvious to anyone with a professional background. I repeat that the topic needs to be demand led, it is the only method that can work in a real democracy.

I have a perfect example having just repaired a Band F heating only boiler, for a middle aged couple who heat their hot water using an immersion heater. The hot water cylinder is housed in the roof space at their end terraced house. As both are working, they argue they are both out most of time. The boiler is at least 12 years old but this is the first breakdown they have known in their 8 years at the address. The boiler it has to be said is not even slightly compromised by age, from a gas safety perspective.

They are environment conscious, into modern thinking with dietary matters and their six cats are affectionately named after herbs as I discovered when one appeared to me to be acting suspiciously in my posh new instrument case, which may have seemed like a new-age cat litter tray.

That said, their confidence was reinforced by my honest appraisal of their boiler. Short of telling porkies what else could I have done ? Fuel bills were quoted as being reasonable and that clearly was a factor in their reckoning. Any other customer might have shown me the door but I had delivered a good result, being the fifth Installer (they originally said the third) called and were happy to discuss the nuts and bolts of Part L over a brew.

Musing for a moment. Their kitchen is large. The boiler is on a spacious wall and pipework readily accessible. A straight – condensing boiler – swap would have been perfectly feasible. No problems under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations. (Say) £1200 plus tea and bacon butties.

Slap on Part L measures. TRV’s, boiler interlock, power flush etc and the bill starts to go up. But what of the HWC ? It is a non-compliant cylinder and of course there are no controls (Y plan). Let’s get real, we’re now talking big money. It’s just not going to happen. I know I could drop their bills significantly but not so much they’d be running up and down the street hysterically.

Where I live people might express sympathy with Part L but it would start and end there. Past exceptions (pre-Part L) have been people with gravity circs where hot water cannot keep up with their demands. Then and only then are they motivated to act. There is of course no reason why people should spend money on energy efficiency. What I think is of no consequence. I remind myself and everyone else, we live in a democracy. I can and do exercise my democratic right not to install non-compliant upgrades but there is always someone else who will for cash.

If you like stories with a guaranteed happy ending then you’re on the wrong website. We only trade in reality not fiction. The unpalatable reality is that massive cash injection is required to sponsor a fundamental and lasting shift in cultural thinking. No pain, no gain.

At some point they’re going to have to stop nibbling at the fringes and bite hard on the bullet. Suggestions:

Carbon tax on all homes for sale. Substantial enough to ensure Part L compliance (best practice) is viable alternative and indeed would improve sale prices. Focus on the unpopular bits. New owners will still have double glazing fitted for reasons of vanity. There would have to be upgrade surveillance on completion but no grants or bureaucracy would set it.

Interest free loans plus administration fee secured by a charge on the property concerned and recoverable on sale of the property. Full best practice model again with focus on the unpopular bits as before. People could start to benefit from control options and hot water improvements immediately.

Substantial and mandatory rent (carbon) discounts to tenants in private sector lettings to encourage Landlords to upgrade.