Economising electricity, but do isolated gestures really contribute to a reduction in climate change?
Of course we are persistently reminded to save energy in order to help the environment. Remembering to turn lights off, phone chargers and televisions from standby mode etc. It’s estimated that through leaving electrical appliances on standby mode on average could equate to around £76 on your annual bill. However when it comes to heating your property the efficiency is dependant on several factors including insulation but most importantly how you utilise your central heating system. Whilst it is possible to draft proof and seal every single nook and cranny of your property in order to obtain ultimate insulation levels. What you don’t want to do it turn your property into an air tight sealed box, since our homes can emit toxins from both furnishings and boilers leading to allergies and ill health.
Where does our UK electricity come from?
Bearing in mind the diverse sources of which electricity is generated impacts the environment in various ways. Conventional fuels applied to generate electricity have a historical reputation of being carbon loaded, consequently inducing significant pollution. Carbon dioxide is a colourless and doorless gas, we have heavily relied upon carbon based fuels to power our energy demand since the industrial revolution. As a consequence from using such carbon loaded fossil fuels over a prolonged period this has dramatically increased the concentration in the earths atmosphere, leading to global warming. Within the UK the majority of our electricity is made up from power plants and the ever increasing renewable electricity industry. It’s quite staggering when you think that only five years ago under 7% of the UK’s electricity mix came from renewable sources. In the second quarter of 2015 over 25% of UK electricity was powered by renewable sources. Which means that one in four units of energy was generated from natural sources, which is remarkable.
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Electricity mix Q2 2015[/caption]
A considerable quantity of the electricity generated in the UK is dependant upon imported fuels. It’s estimated that on average fuel travels 2,650 miles before reaching the UK. This includes purchasing uranium from Kazakhstan, piping gas from Norway and coal from Russia. As one would expect the 2,650 miles in transporting these fuels also accumulates an energy and carbon emission expenditure. With the majority of energy suppliers in the UK supplying power from gas or coal there a dedicated number of suppliers whom are committed in only supplying the majority of electricity from renewable sources - this includes popular renewables such as wind and solar. Whilst these sources create notably less carbon emissions inevitably there will remain a modest impact on the environment.
So what exactly are the effects from generating electricity?
Within the UK the lions share of greenhouse emissions come directly from the energy sector. We have included a detailed break down below which includes all the major electricity contributors.
Electricity generated via coal is renowned for causing significant carbon dioxide emissions which is the greatest taboo in the fight against climate change. Additionally there is the highly toxic air pollution which can cause significant respiratory and other health problems. Living nearby or in close proximity to a coal power station is of course going to have an impact onto the quality of the air we breath in. Coal power supply is expected to be entirely phased out by 2025, more recently cleaner electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind and solar acquired a significant market share in 2015 vastly over taking coal.
An other significant electricity source includes nuclear which one set up correctly is relatively safe offering little impact to the environment with the exception to aesthetically unappealing to the eye. Whilst there remains a minor risk of leaking at any nuclear power plant the possibility is small however if a leak occurs the results can be disastrous leading to lasting impairment to the surrounding land and inhibitors. Of course nuclear waste is also radioactive together with taking decades before the designated area becomes safe again.
The largest contributor to the UK’s electricity supply comes in the form of gas. As we know like coal this is also a fossil fuel which has a limited time span although less harmful to the environment than coal with emissions estimated to be around 50% less than that of it’s opponent coal.
The renewable sector. Clean and renewable generators of electricity commonly include wind and solar. Whilst they may be controversial to our landscape one thing is for sure and that is there ability to provide clean electricity for our daily needs. There has been reports from locals of noise coming from wind farms although if more wind farms were installed offshore this would be a problem solved surely. It’s noted that offshore wind farms create an synthetic reef which wildlife take full advantage from. Photovoltaic panels or more commonly known as Solar panels do necessitate highly toxic materials which must be managed with precaution to prevent unnecessary pollution. Similarly to wind turbines solar panels to require space. Whilst it’s been highlighted that installing solar farms in fields isn’t the most efficient use of space it has been suggested that installing solar panels on top of unoccupied roof structures particularly in cities offers a more practical solution and efficiency of space.
What exactly can we do at home to reduce our carbon emissions?
Electricity mix Q2 2015[/caption]
A considerable quantity of the electricity generated in the UK is dependant upon imported fuels. It’s estimated that on average fuel travels 2,650 miles before reaching the UK. This includes purchasing uranium from Kazakhstan, piping gas from Norway and coal from Russia. As one would expect the 2,650 miles in transporting these fuels also accumulates an energy and carbon emission expenditure. With the majority of energy suppliers in the UK supplying power from gas or coal there a dedicated number of suppliers whom are committed in only supplying the majority of electricity from renewable sources - this includes popular renewables such as wind and solar. Whilst these sources create notably less carbon emissions inevitably there will remain a modest impact on the environment.
So what exactly are the effects from generating electricity?
Within the UK the lions share of greenhouse emissions come directly from the energy sector. We have included a detailed break down below which includes all the major electricity contributors.
Electricity generated via coal is renowned for causing significant carbon dioxide emissions which is the greatest taboo in the fight against climate change. Additionally there is the highly toxic air pollution which can cause significant respiratory and other health problems. Living nearby or in close proximity to a coal power station is of course going to have an impact onto the quality of the air we breath in. Coal power supply is expected to be entirely phased out by 2025, more recently cleaner electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind and solar acquired a significant market share in 2015 vastly over taking coal.
An other significant electricity source includes nuclear which one set up correctly is relatively safe offering little impact to the environment with the exception to aesthetically unappealing to the eye. Whilst there remains a minor risk of leaking at any nuclear power plant the possibility is small however if a leak occurs the results can be disastrous leading to lasting impairment to the surrounding land and inhibitors. Of course nuclear waste is also radioactive together with taking decades before the designated area becomes safe again.
The largest contributor to the UK’s electricity supply comes in the form of gas. As we know like coal this is also a fossil fuel which has a limited time span although less harmful to the environment than coal with emissions estimated to be around 50% less than that of it’s opponent coal.
The renewable sector. Clean and renewable generators of electricity commonly include wind and solar. Whilst they may be controversial to our landscape one thing is for sure and that is there ability to provide clean electricity for our daily needs. There has been reports from locals of noise coming from wind farms although if more wind farms were installed offshore this would be a problem solved surely. It’s noted that offshore wind farms create an synthetic reef which wildlife take full advantage from. Photovoltaic panels or more commonly known as Solar panels do necessitate highly toxic materials which must be managed with precaution to prevent unnecessary pollution. Similarly to wind turbines solar panels to require space. Whilst it’s been highlighted that installing solar farms in fields isn’t the most efficient use of space it has been suggested that installing solar panels on top of unoccupied roof structures particularly in cities offers a more practical solution and efficiency of space.
What exactly can we do at home to reduce our carbon emissions?
- In the UK the average property produces around 10 tonnes of CO2 annually.
- Using standard 6x 100w light bulbs annually will amass a whopping 532kg of carbon dioxide.
- Average television use will accumulate to 257kg in carbon dioxide annually.