Buildings can be carbon neutral and energy efficient by 2050

30/01/2012

Both commercial and domestic premises could be carbon neutral and more energy efficient by 2050 if the correct policies are put in place, claims a report commissioned by Oxford University.

The emphasis needs to be switches between energy purchases to improving energy services says the Achieving Zero report from Dr Brenda Boardman from the Environment Change Institute at the historic university.

The report has been supported by Greenpeace, and recommends that firms use personal carbon allowances and display energy certificates alongside existing energy saving policies.

The report suggests that in the near future the average demand of 477 per terra watt hour for gas and oil and 200 per terra watt hour down to just 100 terra watt hours for renewable electricity.

"This report makes the simple case that we need a proper plan, as doing nothing is not an option. The savings that could be made by the government by implementing the recommendations in the report are staggering,” Greenpeace chief scientist Doug Parr said.

“The energy that could be saved is nearly 500 times larger than energy used to run London Underground system or 10,000 times greater than the energy used each year to keep MPs and Lords warm and well-lit in Parliament."

Despite the obvious advantages of switching to renewable energy, a new document released by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) suggested recently that it could take until 2030 before any real cost savings are seen.

And what’s more, because of the expense of constructing the devices needed to generate renewable energy, the cost of business gas and electricity could actually rise each year before levelling out in 2024.

But it is hoped that 2040 the measures will be delivering a cost saving of around 20 per cent (equivalent of £90 per mega watt hour opposed to 110 per mega watt hour).

Posted by Sam Williams