Why reduce energy demand and what can be done to reduce it?

It is important to reduce energy demand for a number of reasons. It benefits the environment as it can reduce CO2 emissions. It reduces the risk of “the lights going out” where our energy production cannot meet our demand, therefore increasing energy security. It can also help people to reduce their energy bills which can be beneficial to local economies and reducing fuel poverty.

There are several ways to reduce energy demand:

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings can greatly increase demand. As much as 80% of the energy produced by power stations is lost by the time it is used in the home. This makes it one of the most important measures to reduce demand. By improving insulation in homes this issue can be effectively tackled.

Improving technology of electrical appliances can allow them to be used on less energy. Combined with this an improved grid system called a smart grid could greatly reduce consumption. This works by delivering energy based on when it is required rather than constant delivery.

Educating people as to how they can reduce their energy consumption can be very effective in changing behaviour and increasing awareness of energy use. Through understanding the benefits of carefully managing their energy use such as saving money and improving the environment, people are more likely to use energy sparingly.

There are many more options for decreasing demand and ways in which these ideas can be implemented. Above are just three major options for tackling this issue.