Quietly does it...

Just quietly slipping into your feed again after a short break. No fanfare. No big announcements. No grand plans. Just this, after an extended hiatus, followed by a planned "grand" return that fizzled out before beginning.  It's just like another corporation quietly dropping their net zero ambitions, expecting nobody to notice.  Why now? If you haven't been living under a rock the last few months (and I'd be slightly envious if you have) you will be well aware of the climate related news.  We have seen tumbling temperature records already this summer. Highest May and June temperatures in the UK, record temperatures across much of Europe and parts of North America.  Events for the US semiquincentennial celebrations were cancelled in DC due to extreme heat and New York City had established cooling centres for vulnerable people. The UK has had three heatwaves already by mid-July. Wildfires are widespread with multiple fatalities in Spain and hundreds of thousands eva...

Climate Change Myths: Lots of small savings add up to a big saving

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By switching off electrical appliances rather than putting them on standby could save the average British  household £37 per year, that is around 3-4% of the average annual domestic electricity consumption. But what is this in terms of overall energy consumption?

The average electricity consumption is 4,800 kWh per household
The average UK annual gas consumption is 16,000 kWh per household

Carbon emissions for electricity are typically 0.55kg CO2/kWh giving 2640kg/year.
Carbon emissions for gas are typically 0.185kg CO2/kWh giving 2960kg/year.
Giving a total of 5600kg


So a generous 4% saving on electricity (105kg) results in a total saving of 1.9%. 


Domestic energy consumption accounts for around 30% of overall UK energy consumption therefore if EVERYONE makes this saving that will result in a total reduction in carbon emissions of around 0.5%.  In reality, many people will not take implement this change, more appliances will be acquired and the savings by some will be cancelled out by the profligacy of others.

In conclusion, small changes made by the conscientious few will be naught but a drop in the ocean unless many many more people get on board and make BIG changes, reducing overall energy consumption by double digit percentages year on year.