Solar and wind power is growing worldwide, but so is electricity consumption: as a result, renewables are often only added to the energy mix, rather than replacing fossil fuels.
Reducing energy demand would make net zero more achievable, but it recieves far less attention than decarbonisation efforts. This may be due to a perception that managing energy demand would be politically unpopular, requiring governments to make radical interventions into people’s lifestyles and spending.
Oliver Broad, Senior Research Fellow at University College London, tells Alasdair that such fears are unfounded. His team’s research found that the UK could reduce energy demand by 52% without new tech or overly disruptive societal change, and has worked with policymakers and public focus groups to demonstrate political acceptability.
How much energy does your employer use cooling your office? How much diesel fuel does your government use?
The point is taking an entire country’s energy usage, including for agricultural, industrial, commercial, government, and military use, and divide it by the number of people in that country. You might be better than most, but the goal itself includes trying to reduce the non-residential, non-consumer uses as well.