Shouldn’t we focus on energy saving, rather than support new ways of producing it?
We need to do both. Reducing the nation’s demand on the national grid – through energy saving, and changing our everyday behaviour – is not an optional extra in the drive to tackle climate change effectively. It’s essential, and it represents perhaps the most cost-effective way of meeting our obligations to cut greenhouses gas emissions. But it also requires a big effort by everyone to do their bit – not just politicians, policy makers and industry. We waste an estimated 40% of our energy – through poorly insulated homes, inefficient appliances and by leaving on lights, computers, TVs, for example, when they are not needed. Energy saving and renewable energy production must work in tandem if we are to achieve targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – in the UK and elsewhere.
