We say this often but it’s worth repeating; the cheapest form of energy is energy you don’t actually use. Against the backdrop of the latest news from the National Grid that the UK might have to prepare for blackouts this winter, using less energy could also be key to keeping the lights on.
It seems that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy knows this and put forward a £15 million plan for an energy conservation campaign, but it’s been vetoed by No. 10. Is this a massive missed opportunity?
Across Europe energy conservation campaigns are in full swing. Government buildings in Germany are not being heated to more than 20 degrees and lights on public monuments have been switched off. Shops in France can be fined €750 if they keep their doors open whilst the heating’s on and outdoor cafés cannot use heaters. In Greece, window shields are being used to reduce heat loss in public buildings and in the Netherlands large energy users are being forced to adopt energy saving measures. In all, European countries are aiming to reduce their energy consumption by 10-15% and government, business and householders are all being asked to play their part.
So, what are the National Grid saying?
Without action, the National Grid are warning that blackouts are a credible possibility. With the supply of gas from Russia impacting mainland Europe, there’s a real chance that our ability to produce electricity will be affected too, as the UK still relies heavily on gas as part of electricity generation. For some people, such as those who rely on life-maintaining medical equipment, this really is very serious, and for the rest of us it’s a cause for real uncertainty.
Would a public awareness campaign really change things?
Severn Wye regularly encourage households and businesses to reduce their energy use through a variety of simple measures. Turning your thermostat down a degree, making sure your boiler is properly adjusted, switching to LED lightbulbs and (if things get really tough), using an electric blanket instead of heating the whole room will all make a difference. We know from our work promoting changes like this that the biggest barrier households face in using less energy is knowing where to start. Education is really powerful and can make a huge difference.
Many of the changes we recommend are free or low cost and will save households and businesses significant sums of money in the long term – with all the economic and ‘growth’ benefits that would bring. The UK Government could easily follow the examples of local providers like Severn Wye and energy charities across the UK by running an energy saving campaign highlighting the importance of changes like this. It looks like there were plans for such a campaign before they were scrapped by the Prime Minister.
National Grid research shows that smart tariffs (which offer cheaper energy at off peak periods) significantly alter demand. Washing clothes, heating water and car charging can all be done ‘off-peak,’ leading to a 41% reduction in peak energy usage (and 59% reduction if you owned an electric car) in the experiments they have undertaken.
A campaign encouraging energy providers to offer flexible tariffs that would incentivise off-peak use is another example of how Government education could really create change. However, there is no sign of this happening, instead there’s talk of firing up old coal power stations and opening up new gas fields, a backwards step in every way.
It’s also worth pointing out that a £15 million energy conservation campaign would save the Government billions of pounds. The cost of the energy price guarantee has been estimated at nearly £200 billion (if business support is included). Even a 5% reduction in total household use could save the taxpayer £10 billion of this. Alternatively, the Government could consider investing this saving in retrofitting homes and businesses to reduce energy use in the long term.
Running an energy saving campaign and incentivising off peak energy use are relatively simple and low-cost options Government could and should be using to tackle the energy crisis. We have seen successful national communications campaigns in the last two years. We have seen the difference they make. What will it take before energy conservation is a big enough deal to be worth talking about? Maybe the threat of rolling blackouts during the winter will help to focus the mind.
