Back to the Low Carbon Future
Posted by Nigel Ellis, 16 November 2009 09:17:10
The UK Renewable Energy Strategy suggests that we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 18% compared to 2008 and that to achieve this, 30% of our electricity will need to come from renewables. At the moment we’re only generating around 6% of our electricity in the UK from renewables.
Clearly we’ve a long way to go, and our industry is investing billions in new renewable generating capacity to achieve these targets, but we won’t be able to do so without considerable changes in consumer behaviour.
What can we as individuals do?
I believe that technology can play it’s part but we, as energy consumers ourselves, must also play a part by choosing low carbon solutions in our “lifestyle” choices. What could Atlantic offer in terms of products and services that would make it attractive for you to reduce your energy consumption or replace existing energy sytems with low carbon solutions?
Would you consider installing solar or photovoltaic panels to heat your water? Or a ground source heat pump to heat your home? Or even a biomass boiler system to do both? Do you think that electric or hybrid vehicles are the future? Would you consider your energy supplier as a provider of low carbon transport fuel?
The world is changing fast and we need to understand what our customers want, so that we can develop sustainable energy systems that you’ll need in the future.
Let me know what you think about how together we can meet these significant challenges that the low carbon future demands.