What is energy efficiency?

Find out more about energy efficiency.

The current climate...

Around twenty years ago saving energy received less attention in the media and heat would escape through the roof just as quickly as it came out of the gas fire.

More recently however, there has been a greater emphasis on reducing our dependence on energy.  This is due to the growing evidence of the harmful effects of current non-renewable sources such as nuclear power and coal that will lead to less predictable weather patterns in the future. 

Why is it important?

Global warming is now widely considered to be the result of an increase in emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) and HFCs (hydro-fluorocarbons) that trap more of the sun’s radiation back to earth thereby warming the earth.

The effects of a warmer Earth are hotly debated but it could result in rising sea levels, worsening droughts and increased flooding.

How is the UK tackling this?

As a result, modern day appliances must meet tougher standards on energy consumption whilst the latest building regulations (coming into force this April) ensure that new buildings will require less energy through improved heating and insulation. 

The Government is committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2010 but we will all need to look at our own impact as individuals and how we can be more energy efficient if we are to significantly reduce the long term effects of climate change.

What can we do as individuals to help?

By reducing the amount of energy we use at home we can limit the amount of CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere as well as reducing our reliance on non renewable sources of energy such as uranium, oil, gas and coal.  This has coincided with a growing awareness that the UK is running out of North Sea oil and gas and is likely to become a net importer of gas by the end of the decade. 

Average gas and electricity prices have risen between 12 and 18% over past three years due to diminishing resources and increased energy demand. 

By becoming more energy efficient the increased demand for heating and other energy consuming household appliances can be limited as well as helping reduce a household’s gas and electricity bills.

Those without adequate heating, insulation or basic energy efficient measures will continue to face higher bills in the next few years.