Energy
Changing labour market structure
Renewables are key to future energy supply
Given the climate change media coverage and fuel price rises, everyone will have felt the impact energy use has in their lives more acutely in 2007. Generation of renewables in the county showed little progress but will be key to fulfilling demands for cleaner energy in the future.
Energy continues to be an essential and costly part of our lives, economically, environmentally and socially. Evidence of environmental impacts, through mining, water and air pollution, are all welldocumented. Scarcity of supply raises energy costs which are set to rise further with the introduction of government initiatives to reduce energy demand. Households will be increasingly impacted socially if this creates a barrier to accessing jobs and services. Clearly this is unsustainable so the government has begun to ask local authorities to take on more responsibility for energy use including the passing of the Climate Change Bill, issuing certificates and creating the Sustainable Homes Code.
Whilst we look for new ways to reduce our fossil fuel use, it is important we continue to monitor both residential and commercial consumption. As research methodologies are refined, new methods and results become available for calculating carbon emissions. The tables below use rounded figures with the same methodology as last year, however, revised data is now available for 2004 and 2005.2
Energy White Paper May 20073
The UK government published its new White Paper on Energy during the year to set out its international and domestic energy strategy. It was created to respond to climate change and the need to provide clean, secure, affordable energy, it contains four energy goals:
- to put the UK on a path to cutting CO2 emissions by 60% by about 2050, with 'real' progress by 2020
- to maintain the reliability of energy supplies
- to create competitive markets in and beyond the UK
- to ensure every home is adequately and affordably heated
The Paper also shows how measures set out in the 2006 and subsequent Energy Review Reports, the Pre- Budget Report and the 2007 Budget, have been implemented. Some of these measures are due for further public consultation, including nuclear power and more consultations on energy are planned for the future.
Energy Consumption in the Residential Sector
Viewing the residential gas figures below, it appears that consumption reduced slightly overall with 6 out of 10 districts having cut their use. Unfortunately Broxbourne, the district consuming the least last year, rose most dramatically and Stevenage was third highest. Electricity showed little change in use.
Table 1: 2005 Gas consumption and carbon dioxide produced as a result in each district in the residential sector
| District | Gas Consumption Gwh1 | CO2Tonnes Produced |
|---|---|---|
| Broxbourne | 617 | 117,291 |
| Dacorum | 1,068 | 202,987 |
| East Hertfordshire | 894 | 169,808 |
| Hertsmere | 788 | 149,792 |
| North Hertfordshire | 848 | 161,209 |
| St Albans | 1,113 | 211,514 |
| Stevenage | 547 | 103,977 |
| Three Rivers | 708 | 134,554 |
| Watford | 628 | 119,302 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 769 | 146,159 |
| County | 7,982 | 1,516,593 |
Source: DEFRA 2007. Conversion Values: Gas: 0.19, Electricity: 0.43 from the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme
Table 2: 2005 Electricity consumption and carbon dioxide produced as a result in each district in the residential sector
| District | Electricity Consumption Gwh1 | CO2 Tonnes Produced |
|---|---|---|
| Broxbourne | 188 | 80,629 |
| Dacorum | 285 | 122,698 |
| East Hertfordshire | 311 | 133,660 |
| Hertsmere | 204 | 87,616 |
| North Hertfordshire | 255 | 109,501 |
| St Albans | 277 | 118,914 |
| Stevenage | 144 | 61,957 |
| Three Rivers | 180 | 77,438 |
| Watford | 159 | 68,182 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 203 | 87,290 |
| County | 2,204 | 947,885 |
Source: DEFRA 2007. Conversion Values: Gas: 0.19, Electricity: 0.43 from the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme
Energy consumption in the commercial sector
Using the same methodology as last year, consumption of gas appears to have fallen overall in the commercial sector by 663 Gwh. All districts, apart from Broxbourne, reduced their gas consumption. In contrast, electricity usage rose for all districts except for East Hertfordshire.
Table 3: 2005 Gas consumption and carbon dioxide produced as a result in each district in the commercial sector
| District | Gas Consumption Gwh1 | CO2 Tonnes Produced |
|---|---|---|
| Broxbourne | 232 | 44,109 |
| Dacorum | 608 | 115,564 |
| East Hertfordshire | 357 | 67,752 |
| Hertsmere | 356 | 67,567 |
| North Hertfordshire | 366 | 69,589 |
| St Albans | 376 | 71,434 |
| Stevenage | 360 | 68,453 |
| Three Rivers | 191 | 36,284 |
| Watford | 209 | 39,796 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 421 | 80,038 |
| County | 3,477 | 660,586 |
Source: DEFRA 2007. Conversion Values: Gas: 0.19, Electricity: 0.43 from the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme
Table 4: 2005 Electricity consumption and carbon dioxide produced as a result in each district in the commercial sector
| District | Electricity Consumption Gwh1 | CO2Tonnes Produced |
|---|---|---|
| Broxbourne | 209 | 89,864 |
| Dacorum | 371 | 159,677 |
| East Hertfordshire | 356 | 153,038 |
| Hertsmere | 314 | 135,161 |
| North Hertfordshire | 297 | 127,613 |
| St Albans | 288 | 123,791 |
| Stevenage | 335 | 143,859 |
| Three Rivers | 194 | 83,434 |
| Watford | 321 | 137,825 |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 395 | 169,699 |
| County | 3,079 | 1,323,961 |
Source: DEFRA 2007. Conversion Values: Gas: 0.19, Electricity: 0.43 from the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme
Display Energy Certificate for Public Buildings
From 1 October 2008 every public building occupied by public authorities or institutions providing public services, with a floorspace exceeding 1000m2, will be required to exhibit Display Energy Certificates (DECs). The Energy Performance Building Directive governing this legislation was first published in January 2003. The UK was then given six years to apply provisions which include Energy Performance Certificates.
Ratings for the certificates are derived from a building's energy consumption figures over a three year period. The building is then assessed on how well it has operated based on those years. The ratings are similar to those issued for electrical appliances, ranging from A to G, with G being the worst. Assessment of a building's performance and the issue of a certificate can only be carried out by independent and accredited assessors who must be registered with an approved government accreditation scheme. The certificate issued must then be displayed within the building and renewed every year.
Schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and any other publicly-owned buildings accessed by the public, will be affected by the Directive. Landlords and property managers will be responsible for ensuring the Display Energy Certificate is made available and Trading Standards will enforce the certification of existing buildings.
Penalty fines apply if a valid certificate is not produced up to 6 months after the certificate was required or if a valid Display Energy Certificate is not displayed.
1 1 Gwh = 100,000 Kwh
2 Revised datasource www.dti.gov.uk
3 View at www.berr.gov.uk