A low carbon future is a pressing topic for many areas of modern day living – from domestic heating, transportation, and commercial usage. There are a number of avenues, which must be explored, to ensure we continue to lower the globes carbon footprint, and live a cleaner, more sustainable life.
Great things are already happening – see the sort video below, according to the World Economic Forum, Britain recently went a full 24hours without coal power – for the first time in 135 years!
The Climate Change Act (2008) want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK by 80% by 2050 (in comparison to the gas emission levels measured in 1990). The UK has delivered on it’s targets…..so far. However, the period, know as the fifth carbon budget, which runs from 2028 to 2032 is predicted to be more challenging. The main reason for this is that it requires significant action from both the heat and also the transport sector.
To ensure we hit the 2050 target, we need to consider this fifth carbon budget well in advance.
Domestic heating in the UK makes up 20% of the nations carbon footprint, a significant figure, which can further be reduced with continued focus on effective heat management in the home. This can range from better home insulation, to more environmental friendly heating sources, such as high efficiency wood burning stoves. All instrumental in contributing to this target.
How Can The UK Continue to Improve – The Key Messages:
a. Ensure improved communication of policies between power, transport and heat are better co-ordinated.
b. Continue to support the Electricity Market Reform programme, to decarbonise the electricity system
c. Heat is the more significant challenge for decarbonisation at a large scale, and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
d. Continue to communicate the benefits of a more sustainable, low carbon energy system for all
e. Get buy-in from all, the government, businesses and consumers alike.
Avenues for Low Carbon – Heating:
As mentioned above, heat is a key issue, which needs addressing. It’s success is a critical driver that could make or break the UK reaching it’s fifth carbon budget target (2028 – 2032), and of course the 2050 target. Below are a few avenues, which can be looked at to further help low carbon heating:
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- Create a comprehensive understanding and education of pros and cons of each form of low carbon heating sources, which can include costs, funding, practicalities.
. - Educating and informing consumers and businesses, will help ensure a positive take up, as opposed to bombarding people with all the possible green options, without any real personalisation towards their specific needs, requirements and budgets. It needs to be easy and convenient for a real switch to happen.
. - Develop a programme to ensure high insulation levels in buildings, and to allow low carbon heating technologies to be deployed in the most efficient way.
Conclusions:
To ensure a continued focus towards environmentally friendly heating, the government needs to make sure that products are desirable, and fit with the needs and requirements in a way, which is realistic for the consumer, and also businesses. At Charlton & Jenrick we have worked hard with all our stoves and fires, to ensure they are not only highly efficient, but are also popular with customers, and desirable in terms of design, price and practicability.
Wood burning stoves and fires may only form one part of the very large jigsaw, but heating is, and will continue to be a key part of our daily lives. Taking control now will pay dividends in years to come.
