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Reducing energy demand

Britain is already committed to a 34 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. This is a big leap from where we are now, but in reality it’s unlikely to be a big enough step to stop temperatures rising to levels that result in extreme weather events and droughts. Developed countries like the UK will need to go further.

Possibly the most useful – and least understood – step we could take is to reduce our overall energy demand.

This doesn’t have to mean a drop in our living standards – wastefulness is built right into the system we use. Many of our power plants (whatever the fuel type) waste around two-thirds of the energy that goes into them; our homes and offices are poorly insulated; our appliances keep using energy even on standby; our cars use only a fraction of the energy in petrol and diesel… the list is goes on.

But there is cause for hope. Government research estimated that we could realistically cut our energy use by 30 per cent across the board – and save ourselves a whopping £12bn a year in reduced bills by improving energy efficiency. And this is exactly what we need to be doing.

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Energy efficiency

The single most significant step we can take in the UK to reduce carbon emission is to make Britain truly energy efficient. With the right policies at national and local levels, we can deploy existing solutions on a scale large enough to bring about real changes.
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Improving technology

When we combine efficiency and technology we can lower greenhouse gas emissions, provide cheaper electricity and heating, and create a more secure energy supply.
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Personal use

While the government needs to act to transform our energy and transport systems for a low carbon future we can all do our bit to reduce our energy demand. Changes big and small in the way we use electricity, power our vehicles and heat our homes and businesses cumulatively have a significant impact.