Individual Action Towards a Net Zero Future

By Billy Howitt
November 2020

In October, the UK government announced the UK’s plans to become a world leader in green energy. The plans to ‘Build Back Greener’ places the UK at the centre of the transition towards clean wind energy. But, ‘Build Back Greener’ also starts with you - what can you do to contribute towards this low carbon transition?

Between 2000 and 2019 energy intensity across the domestic sector decreased on a household basis by 23%. This improvement has been attributed, but not limited to, more efficient boilers and insulation measures. Although, this progress is taking affirmative action towards the low carbon transition, more needs to be done to reduce household emissions from energy usage. This article provides some easy changes that individuals can adopt to positively contribute towards a net zero society. The examples in this article stem from the UK perspective, but the principles can be transferred to the context of different countries and geographies.

Smart Meters

Smart meters are fundamental in supporting the UK to meet its net zero emissions target. Smart meters provide the building blocks of a more flexible and resilient energy system. Smart meters provide real time energy consumption levels to the consumer thus providing awareness. Awareness is a key driver of behavioural change exemplified by the finding that individual usage (86% with a smart meter have indicated a change in their behaviour to use less energy). Here, individual action is integral in reducing fossil fuel consumption due the UK’s energy mix still consisting of non-renewables resources.

What action can you take?

Opt in to getting a smart meter. Statistics indicate that 50 million smart meters need to be installed to support the transition, with only 21.5 million installed as of March 2020. There are significant benefits for the environment and for consumers’ income in doing so. Achieving the installation of the 50 million meters will present a wealth of data – key to driving detailed analysis of energy consumption and possible intervention and innovation solutions towards net zero.

Renewable Energy Suppliers

Switching to a renewable energy supplier also positively contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By purchasing green electricity, individuals demonstrate support for renewable energy projects - important in the growth of the renewable sector. With gas representing the predominant heat source for UK homes, the fuel significantly contributes towards greenhouse gas emissions. Opting for green gas alternatives thus presents a positive intervention towards zero carbon.

However, the UK experiences low levels of renewable gas supply, with only around 1% of renewable gas within the UK network. As a result, several companies now offer carbon offsetting add-ons to energy bills to invest in the future development of carbon neutral and carbon positive projects. Research is underway to explore the benefits of injecting zero carbon hydrogen into the gas network to reduce carbon emissions.

What action can you take?

Switch to a renewable energy supplier. This poses dual benefits – reducing your individual greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the renewable energy sector. Where possible, it is important to select the greenest energy suppliers whereby the suppliers purchase renewable energy directly from the generator thereby aiding the UK renewable sector. Some of greenest suppliers can be found here. 

Green Home Grant

Energy reduction within households has been attributed to energy efficiencies such as insulation measures and more efficient boilers. The Green Homes Grant will take this further and help an expected 600,000 households in England to pay up to two thirds of up £5000 of energy efficiency measures. Those on lower incomes and/or receiving financial support may receive up to to £10,000 with 100% of the cost covered. This is an important step in driving change within the housing stock to put in place further energy efficiency measures.

The scheme is split into primary and secondary measures and awarded via a voucher.

  • Primary Measures: Insulation measures such as solid wall, cavity wall and loft & Low carbon heat measures such as air source, solar thermal and biomass

  • Secondary Measures: Draught proofing, double glazing when replacing single glazing, heating controls and others.

Applicants must apply for a primary measure in order to obtain a secondary measure. Martin Lewis provides a three minute overview of the scheme here.

Overall, by adopting the aforementioned actions, and more besides, we can make a powerful collective impact towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and attaining a net zero future. Decarbonising heat presents a significant technical challenge, and policy levers, individual action and research must work in tandem to overcome such barriers.

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