The UK’s CO2 emissions fall once again

In some encouraging news for renewable energy enthusiasts, recent data shows that as a nation, our levels of CO2 have once again dropped. They dipped by 2.7 percent in 2017 based on the UK’s Department of Business data and show a marked decline of over 42 percent from 1990 until 2017. Admittedly, the harmful greenhouse gas emissions which most knowledgeable scientists now agree lead to greater problems for the environment are still being emitted, which means there’s still work to do until we reach a zero-carbon emissions environment in the UK.

When looking at the shared usage data, business usage is a bright spot with a 17 percent share of the emissions compared to transportation at 27 percent. Surprisingly, agriculture also has a way to go with a 10 percent share in emissions. Clearly, the heavy use of machinery in farming which doesn’t usually run on electrical power has an impact on the farming industry. And while solar panels for farms are becoming an increasingly favoured option, here at Low Carbon Energy we’re still seeing an incredible uptake of solar panels for businesses.

Zero-carbon emissions for homes

It’s felt that what is needed is a zero-carbon emissions policy aimed at homeowners. Given that residential holds a 15 percent share of the emissions and energy supply sits at a full 25 percent, there’s still much to be done.

One of the worst pollutants is coal producers which thankfully has declined by 27 percent due to the closure of two key coal plants. However, this raises the spectre of energy production and energy usage in homes. While companies have done much better by investing in alternative forms of energy production and reducing their energy usage in many places, citing both the cost savings and environmental motivations, homeowners haven’t been as quick to do the same.

What forms of alternative energy make sense for homeowners?

The overriding favourite option is solar panels to collect energy coming from the sun. The use of a solar panel array combined with equipment to harness the energy and convert it, and a battery bank to store it, is all that’s required to provide energy outside of the UK’s National Grid.

Solar panels can be installed in a variety of places. The roof is usually the best location; either the main roof or even the flat roof of an extension will work too. Solar panels can be fixed using a mounting system which is angled to best catch as much of the sun’s powerful rays each day. Energy is collected at a reduced rate despite the clouds too, which is great news for UK homeowners who don’t always benefit from clear blue skies.

Cost savings and environmentally savvy

Harnessing the sun for a home’s energy supply saves money over time. The reduced cost of solar panels with their increasing popularity has meant that recouping the cost of the equipment doesn’t take too long. The panels and other equipment supplied by Low Carbon Energy last many years. Being far less reliant on the grid for power also means homeowners don’t suffer the effects of a grid power cut.

However, the feel-good factor about the environment is the gift that keeps on giving. Solar panels are easy to manufacture. There are no CO2 emissions when a home benefits from an ongoing energy supply using solar power. At that point, a residence is carbon neutral with the residents having done their bit for the future of our planet.

Here at Low Carbon Energy, we’re proud to have over two decades of experience behind us in providing tailored, efficient solar PV solutions for businesses and homeowners alike. We also offer a number of ways to pay, so that our solutions are never out of reach. Give us a call today on 08456 808 963, and we’ll be happy to tell you more about how we can help!