There doesn’t seem to be a day go by when we’re not hearing about extreme weather events, risks to wildlife or news about sustainable power generation, all issues around our changing climate. Climate change is a fact (on which around 99% of scientists agree). Yes, the Earth’s climate has changed in the past but never so fast. It’s not the change in itself which is the problem but the speed with which it is happening; our natural world cannot adapt quickly enough.
The Net Zero target
The UK has committed to achieving ‘Net Zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. That means that our total emissions as a country will be equal (or less than) what we remove from the atmosphere. And this has been put into law. Of course, the focus at present is mostly on large organisations and businesses who can make big differences. However, as individuals, homeowners and small businesses, we can make significant differences, too, all of which will help achieve that target. (As we will see, it also makes good financial sense to be making those changes soon).
Networking Chandler’s Ford was therefore very pleased to hear from Andy Sutton, chartered architect, CoFounder & Chief Innovation Officer of Sero, a company committed to help create greener, healthier and more affordable homes, fast. At present, they largely work with the social housing sector but their advice and experience is relevant for us all. Andy took us through the key points as well as our biggest potential ‘wins’.
Power-hungry Homes
Homes are a big part of the UK’s energy infrastructure; the power we use in homes is one of the biggest demands on the system. The vast majority of homes are currently powered by electricity or gas, with a little bit of biomass (wood and similar). But only electricity can achieve Net Zero, as all other fuels use burning to release energy, which releases greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. (Biomass can use anaerobic digestion, which doesn’t burn but does still emit greenhouse gases as the bacteria ‘compost’ the organic material to generate heat.) Realistically, the UK National Grid will be generating at Net Zero with increasing frequency during the next decade, although continuous delivery of net zero carbon electricity (i.e. 24/7) is likely to take much longer. So “hunting” for times when it’s zero will be important.
To achieve Net Zero, all homes will therefore need to switch to electricity for heating and hot water in the next decade or two. At the same time, to get our transport methods to Net Zero, cars and other transport is switching to use electricity. This means that the increase in demand for electricity is huge. If we do it all “the best” way, we’ll still need to double the amount of electricity we generate. If we do it less well, we might need six times or more generation!
So what has this got to do with homes?
The bad news: building more electricity generation is paid for by you, in your energy bill (and sometimes in your taxes). As a nation, we’re balancing how much more National Grid electricity generation we want to pay for against how much we want to spend on our homes to help the Grid. It’s about finding the best balance for both.
The balance can be achieved through combining three different groups of things:
• Home improvements that reduce the amount of electricity you will need;
• Home improvements that balance when you need the electricity with when the Grid can generate & supply it, and;
• Home improvements that generate electricity for you to use in your home or sell to others.
These all need to be considered as we switch homes over to solely using electricity.
Reduce
Reducing your electricity demand isn’t just about switching off lights but thinking about how to save what you already use. For example, insulating your home better and blocking up any drafts will preserve heat inside the building, reducing your need to run your heating. (Of course, this saves you money by reducing your gas bills, too!)
Energy efficiency also extends to things like LED lightbulbs (which use about one tenth of the energy of traditional bulbs), choosing A-rated appliances like dishwashers and fridges, and thinking about a heat pump. Yes, there are a lot of myths around about heat pumps, particularly in the press, but they really will make a significant difference to your energy usage and your bills. (If you think your home can’t be heated by a heat pump, there is a whole town in Sweden warmed by one!)
Balance
Not just using less electricity but thinking about when you use it can make a big difference. Whether you are on a graduated tariff with your supplier or not, the reality is that the National Grid uses less carbon at off-peak times. Between about 4pm and 8pm, we all get home, put the kettle on, cook dinner, watch TV and so on, meaning demand spikes and gas-powered stations kick in to fill that gap. Using power in the middle of the day, by comparison, when the sun in shining, or in the middle of the night, when demand is lower, means the Grid can use its more sustainable sources.
For homeowners, think about setting timers on appliances or your electric vehicle so they run or charge overnight. (Some electricity providers do offer cheaper tariffs so you could be saving money too). If this isn’t always practical, think about a home battery that you could charge overnight to then use power when you need it during the day. (Batteries can charge from the Grid, not just solar panels). And think about a well-insulated hot water tank; heating your water overnight to use when you need it is a saving too.
Generate
Many people are thinking about generating their own electricity and Photovoltaic (PV) arrays (solar panels) are a much more common sight on homes now. PV is probably the most effective source of home generation, particularly when used with a battery. Systems can be set up to charge during the day, filling your battery first before then ‘selling’ any additional power back to the Grid to help off-set any bills. (You do need to set up a tariff agreement with your supplier to do this, of course).
Solar thermal panels are also fairly common for homes and use the power of the sun to heat water. Even in the UK, solar thermal generates genuinely hot water, enough for a shower, for example. Of course, raising the temperate by any amount reduces any extra heating your boiler needs to do. Many people have seen significant reductions in their bills with solar thermal panels, although I’d probably personally recommend PV panels if you’re choosing which way to go today.
Finally, if you are in a windy spot, have a spare field, or sit next to a mill race or very fast-flowing stream, you could think about your own wind turbine or hydroelectric power plant! In reality, of course, very few of us to live in the right conditions for either of these so – although possible – they are perhaps less practical for most homeowners.
Everything helps!
To coin a phrase: ‘Don’t just sit there, do something!’ And, when it comes to reducing our carbon emissions, anything and everything will help! As homeowners and small businesses, we have just as significant a contribution to make as anyone else. In most cases, of course, it also makes sound financial sense too.