The
Home Energy Solutions project was funded by the Association of London
Government, and set out to reduce domestic energy consumption and consequent
CO2 emissions, while promoting the uptake energy efficiency measures and
renewable energy installations over four years.
450 households were recruited across the 4 Outer West London boroughs
of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon. The households were concentrated
in streets or blocks both for logistical reasons and to represent a cross-section
of house types found in each borough, cross-referenced against socio-economic
indices and ethnic mix. Each
household received a free detailed energy survey of their home, advice on reducing energy consumption and monthly meetings over the course of a year to record consumption and help meet energy reduction targets.
The findings indicate that despite the significantly high proportion of solid walled properties occupied by participating households in the project, there is a clear potential to significantly reduce C02 emissions from domestic dwellings through the use of technologies; typically in the region of 1 to 2 tonnes of C02 per household based on current consumption levels. But these technological measures are most likely to realise their potential over longer periods of time approximately 1 to 2 years after installation. However a significant number of households realised a measurable reduction in energy use and carbon emissions within 12 months through adopting attitudes and behaviour that supported basic sustainable consumption patterns such as reducing the level and duration of heating and similar changes in use of electrical appliances; which suggests there is scope for meeting short and long term targets for emissions reductions through awareness raising campaigns relating to lifestyle and behaviour.
In-depth interviews, questionnaires and discussion throughout this project allowed us and households to gauge a deeper understanding of motives for accepting or rejecting Sustainable development ideas and technologies with specific relevance to the home.
The final Home Energy Solutions report can be downloaded here