UK Climate Change Programme 2006 - JNCC - Defra

Domestic
75
Introduction
1. In 2004 the domestic sector was responsible for
about 30 per cent of total UK energy use and
about 27 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions on
an end user basis. That energy is used by a wide
range of different appliances in the home – with
around 60 per cent used for heating, 20 per cent
for hot water and the remainder for lighting and
appliances.
policy interventions are sometimes necessary.
The case for government intervention needs to
be built on a firm evidence base, with decisions
taking account of wider economic and social
objectives. Where the case for intervention is
seen, the most cost-effective and well-targeted
package of measures need to be used. But the
Government cannot deliver this alone – it will
need changes in consumer attitudes and
behaviour if we are to successfully make a stepchange
in energy efficiency and tackle the trend
towards rising energy demand that has been
predominant for recent decades.
Greenhouse gas emissions inventory
and projections
2. A range of different approaches are required to
tackle domestic energy efficiency effectively.
These include the provision of information and
advice to consumers, such as energy labels on
new appliances, incentives, such as reduced VAT
on energy saving materials, voluntary agreements
with retailers and manufacturers, regulations,
such as minimum standards for buildings and
appliances, or supplier obligations such as the
Energy Efficiency Commitment.
3. There are many potential barriers to the take-up
of energy efficiency measures in the home.
People can be reluctant to introduce energy
efficiency measures, even when they are
demonstrably cost effective, for a variety of
reasons – lack of awareness and information, lack
of capital for the up-front investment required or
other spending priorities, inertia, or an
unwillingness to become involved in even limited
building improvements, because of the ‘hassle
factor’ for example. To correct these market
failures, the Government recognises that different
4. In 1990 greenhouse gas emissions from this
sector were 45.8 MtC 1 , they had fallen to 43.7
MtC in 2004 and they are projected to be 38.7
MtC in 2010. Carbon dioxide emissions in 1990
were 42.4MtC, and fell by 2.6MtC over the
decade to reach 39.8MtC in 2000. This small net
change was the result of the interaction between
several much larger individual contributions over
the decade. Three factors had a major influence
on carbon dioxide emissions:
• growth in demand for the underlying energy
services (such as warmer homes, hot water,
and home entertainment) – up nearly 30 per
cent, i.e. 11.5 MtC;
• background improvement in energy efficiency
– over 1 per cent per annum or a 12 per cent
reduction, i.e. 4.5 MtC; and
• reduction in the carbon intensity of grid
electricity resulting from the switch from coal
to gas generation – worth over 20 per cent of
household emissions, i.e. 8 MtC.
Together with other smaller factors (such as fuel
switching by householders and changes in
external temperatures), which reduced emissions
by around 1 MtC, these resulted in an overall net
reduction of 6 per cent, or around 2.5 MtC.
1 Emissions from the generation of electricity used by this sector are included in the total figures