ESRC Society Today

Research contained in the Tyndall Centre’s 2005 report Decarbonising the UK (DUK) clearly illustrates a suite of opportunities to substantially reduce current demand within a short to medium timeframe.

How demand could be constrained: 

• All new cars sold in the UK should meet a minimum mpg standard by 2010
• Fridges and freezers sold after 2008 should not exceed a maximum energy use
• New (best practice) building regulations should be raised incrementally at 2yr intervals
• Phase out standby facilities on electrical gadgets, or insist on tough consumption standard
• Phase out all 'normal' light bulbs by 2008 to be replaced by low-energy bulbs
• Growth in aviation should be limited; expansion at existing airports should be curtailed           

Just looking at the estimated annual CO2 emissions from devices left on standby provides and indication of scale:

• Stereos - 1,600,000 tonnes
• Videos - 960,000 tonnes
• TVs - 480,000 tonnes
• Consoles - 390,000 tonnes
• DVD players - 100,000 tonnes 
• Set-top boxes - 60,000 tonnes           

(Source: Energy Savings Trust)

Researchers at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) are also trying to identify how and to what extent demand  can be reduced across all sectors of the economy (see "Living in a low carbon world: the policy implications of rationing"). The Centre is a central part of the £28m cross-research councils programme Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy (TSEC). By taking a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to national and international energy research UKERC aims to provide the knowledge needed to work towards a sustainable energy system and realise UK energy policy goals.