In these pages you will find out about why it is important to use energy efficiently in your home.
There are many measures you can take to reduce the effects of climate change and reduce your energy bills.
The Energy Saving Trust has some excellent advice including:
Climate change
One of the biggest challenges facing us at the moment is climate change.
The inefficient use of energy in our homes is needlessly contributing to the United Kingdom's carbon footprint.
Our Sustainable city pages contain more information about climate change and the ways in which we are trying to combat it.
Fuel costs and supply security
Domestic fuel bills have been rising over the past few years and this has caused major problems for householders.
The increase is a result of the dramatic rise in crude oil prices and many people have entered 'fuel poverty' for the first time.
Gas currently provides around 40% of the UK's energy but we are now importing more than we export.
Our dependence on other European markets and high oil prices have increased the price of gas.
Coal currently provides around 30% of the UK's electricity requirements and has historically been our main source of energy. However, although resources are still fairly abundant there are obvious concerns regarding the fact that it produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other fuel.
The nuclear option
With fossil fuels slowly becoming a technology of the past we will have to look elsewhere to meet our increasing energy demands.
Nuclear energy has been proposed as a solution but, despite reassurances over improved safety and increased stability of supply, there remains much public concern.
Nuclear waste remains radioactive for tens of thousands of years and the cost of cleaning up power stations and disposing of waste is very expensive.
Furthermore, in 2004 only 3.6% of the UK's energy demand was met by nuclear power stations.
Alternatives
Some of the alternative options for meeting our energy demands include increased energy efficiency and renewable technologies.
Approximately 4% of our electricity demand currently comes from renewable energy and, with improving technology and increased uptake, this figure is expected to rise.
Whilst fossil fuels will no doubt continue to supply the majority of our energy needs for the next few years the time to act is now in order to avoid potentially calamitous climate change problems.
Home energy use background
The energy we use to heat, light and power our homes is responsible for 27% of the United Kingdom's carbon dioxide emissions.
Despite substantial work to reduce domestic energy use there was a 19% increase in consumption between 1990 and 2001 in UK homes.
This
is predominantly as a result of increased provision of central heating.
This domestic energy consumption rise is
also attributable to our increased usage of electrical appliances: £1.2 billion per year is spent running our fridges and
freezers; £800 million is spent operating our washing machines and tumble dryers.
From a financial angle, rising
fuel prices and increasing fuel poverty mean that using our energy efficiently and effectively can only help to enhance our
lives.
