Learn About: Our Carbon Emissions

Just how much CO₂ do we make in our homes then ?
 

The easy answer is “masses”, but lets look at the details.

In the UK the total amount of Electricity used in our homes has grown like this:
 

Today in our homes we use 22% more electricity than in 1990.

Compared to 1980, we use 34% more, and as for 1970 our electricity use is up by nearly 50% !

And over the same period our domestic gas consumption has gone like this:

 

The huge rise in both electricity and gas since the second World War speaks for itself. An orgy of voracious fossil fuel consumption. We’re all using absolutely masses of energy resulting in masses of CO₂.


That said, you’ll see from the graphs in the last few years there’s been a dip in the Gas consumption - and a flattening of electricity consumption. Could this be high bills taking effect ? Are people cutting back on their consumption because of this ? Or might it be insulation and low energy appliances (light bulbs etc) becoming more mainstream.

Who knows? All we do know is that we’re a long way up the energy mountain and we need to move rapidly to lower energy and lower Carbon ways of living.

But luckily you’re on the right website to make a start !