Energy Advancements Must be Sustainable

Recent years have seen noteworthy improvements in the UKs energy efficiency. Although the low carbon economy progress is significant, increased efforts and more solutions will be required for many years. Sustainable development in this area is expected from the gas and electricity markets, and this must be accomplished with a consideration towards the impact on consumers.
Gas and electricity projects related to energy conservation and lower greenhouse gas emissions must meet Government requirements year after year. Power stations combined with industries and residences contribute 66% of the UKs carbon dioxide emissions. Programs piloted by the gas and electricity sectors in 2006 and 2007 resulted in an emissions decrease of 4%. These programs concentrated on coal to gas conversion and renewable energy projects.
Total energy consumption in the UK has decreased each year since 2005, with a 3% reduction in 2007. A 3% drop in electricity usage and 4% drop in gas usage were reported. In order to meet Government guidelines, the gas and electricity sectors must continue to accomplish improved energy efficiency each year.
One of the most difficult challenges for the fuel markets is to balance the move toward greener energy with the financial burdens placed on customers. Fuel prices have reached some of their highest levels in recent years, and some consumers have struggled to keep up with the escalating costs. This comes in the midst of one of the shakiest economic periods in recent history. Statistics reveal that in 2006, 3.5 million UK households were in fuel poverty, and 2.75 million of these were classified as vulnerable households. Fuel poverty households spend greater than 10% of their total income on fuel to keep their homes warm. Final reports of fuel poverty households for 2007 and 2008 have not been finalised, but estimates are that the increases in fuel poverty households were .7 million in 2007 and .5 million in 2008.
Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, works with the Government and the gas and electricity markets to achieve the sustainable development targets established by the Government. Ofgem regulates the gas and electricity sectors to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair practices. This agency is particularly interested in helping fuel poverty households and has a goal of eliminating fuel poverty by 2018. Ofgem drives low carbon initiatives and facilitates projects aimed at meeting carbon dioxide reduction.
The gas and electricity sectors have achieved positive results from their efforts in the past several years to save energy, protect the nations supply of fuel, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and lower energy costs. Ofgem has played a large role in the energy sectors reaching and exceeding low carbon goals. Concentrated effort and further innovations are needed, however, in order to meet the Governments targets for continual improvement.

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