The new report from the Energy Efficiency Infrastructure Group comes amid growing calls for a ‘green’ recovery from the pandemic to help the economy and tackle the climate crisis.
It says that increasing the energy efficiency of homes is the cheapest way to create jobs and boost the economy, while also helping the UK hit its carbon reduction targets.
Helen Boyle, strategic decarbonisation manager at Electricity North West, the region’s power network operator, has welcomed the report, saying that the coronavirus pandemic has provided an opportunity to make changes to benefit both the environment and the economy.
She said: “The coronavirus lockdown has been tough for so many people and businesses, but it’s now given us the opportunity to think about how we can build back better.
“If the UK is to hit its carbon targets we need to do more to reduce the carbon emissions of our homes and buildings. As the power network there are some innovative things we’re doing to help.”
Electricity North West’s innovative Smart Street scheme makes homes and businesses more energy efficient by reducing the voltage supplied to some households towards the lower end of the normal 220V to 240V range.
The scheme, which is due to start being rolled out on the network later this year, sees the voltage supplied to homes reduced by a few per cent at times of high energy consumption. Doing this ensures appliances operate at their most efficient level, saving North West residents money and reducing carbon emissions through reduced energy use.
A successful four-year trial found a household’s electricity consumption was cut by between five and eight per cent, saving the householder up to £60 a year on their electricity bill and cutting carbon emissions by between seven and 10 per cent.
The first voltage control devices are set to be installed in substations in November 2020 and the technology will be rolled out to 180 areas in the region over the next three years.
Helen added: “By rolling out Smart Street across the region, we’re helping thousands of our customers to reduce the amount of energy they use and cut their electricity bills.
“We’re creating the UK's first actively optimised network and not only will it save money and reduce carbon emissions but it makes the network more flexible and able to connect new technologies such as electric cars and solar panels on a large scale.
“By 2050 – the date when the UK has committed to achieve net-zero carbon – the energy savings generated by Smart Street will be the equivalent of taking 2,570 polluting cars off the road every year.”
