| Year | Energy Efficiency Scheme | Rationale |
| 1989 | Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) | To support nuclear power |
| 1990 | Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) | To additionally support renewable energy |
| 2000 | Climate Change Programme | To reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change (including promoting better energy efficiency in the domestic sector and improving the energy efficiency requirements of the building regulations) |
| 2001 | Climate Change Levy (CCL) | To tax nondomestic intensive energy users in industry and the public sector. (Renewable energy suppliers were exempt) |
| 2001 | Climate Change Agreement | Intensive energy companies who accepted the Climate Change Agreement, could get a discount on the CCL tax of 80%. |
| 2002 | The Renewables Obligation Order | Required electricity end suppliers to purchase a proportion of their electricity energy supply from renewable technologies, receiving tradable renewable obligation certificates in return (ROC’s). |
| 2002 | Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) | Required energy suppliers to achieve a target level of energy savings over the time period to 2005, via facilitating implementation of domestic energy efficiency improvements. |
| 2005 | Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) | A second phase of EEC was implemented between 2005 and 2008 |
| 2005 | European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) | To comply with the Kyoto Protocol. Tradable permits introduced and divided amongst firms in sectors covered by the agreement. |
| 2007 | Code for Sustainable Homes | To establish minimum energy performance standards for the construction of new houses. 25% energy improvement required over 2006 building regulations. |
| 2008 | Climate Change Act | To set a legally binding target of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2050. Carbon budgets set for five year periods by appointed Committee on Climate Change. |
| 2009 | Low Carbon Transition Plan | Set out policies to reduce emissions across key sectors. |
| 2008 | Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) | Replaced the Energy Efficiency Commitment. Greater focus on increased domestic energy saving measures and increased commitment to target fuel poverty. |
| 2008 | Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation | Requires a specific percentage of UK road fuel to be from renewables. |
| 2008 | Energy performance certificates (EPC’s) | EPC’s give an energy performance rating |
| 2009 | Community Energy Saving Programme | To address fuel poverty in the UK via energy suppliers facilitating domestic energy efficiency improvements. |
| 2010 | Code for Sustainable Homes | Code revised to improve energy efficiency |