Efforts to cut carbon emissions are being hampered in Norfolk and Suffolk by the energy efficiency of government buildings, according to new figures.Much like domestic appliances - such as fridges and washing machines - most government buildings must have an energy rating.

Efforts to cut carbon emissions are being hampered in Norfolk and Suffolk by the energy efficiency of government buildings, according to new figures.

Much like domestic appliances - such as fridges and washing machines - most government buildings must have an energy rating.

Of the nine buildings in Norwich which have been given a Display Energy Certificate (DEC), none have a top A energy rating and only one - the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Thorpe Road - has a B rating.

Three buildings, including Norwich Magistrates Court, are in the lowest G band while the Ministry for Justice office at Norwich Prison was given a C rating.

In Great Yarmouth two of the three buildings - the magistrates court and Revenue and Customs at Haven Bridge House are G rated.

While in King's Lynn the buildings are C and D rated, including Revenue and Customs at Vancouver House, and in Lowestoft three out of the five buildings, including the magistrates court, are G rated.

The certificates, required in all public sector buildings/offices larger than 1000m2 and frequently visited by the public, were introduced in 2008 and are updated annually.

Simon Gerard, from the CRed carbon reduction programme, which is based at the University of East Anglia, said: “I think it is great that DEC certificates are in place because it raises awareness of how much there is still to do. Even though we talk about new buildings being very low carbon, there is still an awful lot of work needed on our existing buildings.”

Figures for London show more buildings at G rated than any other standard and of the entire list of more than 1,600 buildings only four gain an A rating.

A spokesman for the Office of Government Commerce, which released the figures, said: “The government is committed to achieving a position of leadership in sustainable procurement; and of achieving ambitious forward targets for sustainable operations on the government estate.

“The latest data on government sustainable performance shows that the government has made significant improvements in all five areas of sustainable operations on its estate. This includes a 10pc reduction of carbon emissions from offices against the 1999/00 baseline (3.7pc better than last year's performance).

“The target is a 12.5pc reduction against the 1999/00 baseline by 2010-11 and it is forecast that the government can achieve a 17.8pc reduction by 2010/11.”

t For the full list of buildings and their energy ratings visit www.ogc.gov.uk/government_delivery_display_energy_certificate_data.asp