WWF resignation from zero carbon homes taskforce highlights need for appliance-level energy data

Thursday 14th April 2011

This month, the WWF announced its resignation from the UK Government’s zero carbon homes taskforce, claiming the approach is now ‘effectively useless’ as it no longer includes emissions from electrical appliances in the home.

Previous government policy ensured that all new homes built from 2016 would have net zero-carbon emissions, but house builders will no longer have to ensure that all energy demand can be met from carbon-neutral sources.

In contrast to the WWF, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has backed the Government’s amendment, claiming it will help to deliver more low energy homes by providing a realistic, achievable objective.

But in my view, a broader perspective on energy management in the home is needed – and that needs to start from today, and not 2016.

The Government’s Carbon Plan highlights the importance of the reducing energy consumption in the UK’s 26m homes, which are responsible for 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

But without a clear, detailed understanding of how energy is used in the home – whether it’s a 200 year old property or new-build – the efforts of UK households to reduce emissions from electrical appliances could be in vain.

How many people know the true cost of running their washing machine every year? Or leaving the lights on over night? Or running their immersion heater? Without this detail at an appliance level, households will remain in the dark over the best approach to reducing their emissions.

The disaggregation technology that can be used in every UK home to provide detailed energy consumption is available now. I urge the Government to take action and empower home owners to take control of their energy usage.

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