As the global energy crisis deepens due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, new analysis by the non-profit think tank Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) looks at how home insulation and heat pumps could reduce UK demand for Russian gas.This approach can of course be applied to other countries as well.
On March 8, Electrek focused on an article by environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, in which he called for the U.S. to build heat pumps and ship them to Europe to help Europe curb demand for Russian fossil fuels. dependency.
Likewise, the ECIU has proposed what it calls “common sense solutions at risk of being overlooked.”this means:
The simplest solution is to reduce the use of natural gas – by improving energy efficiency (such as insulation), and getting rid of the use of natural gas entirely, such as by using domestic heat pumps and generating electricity from renewable sources.
In terms of insulation, the ECIU presented its previous analysis, which envisaged “upgrading 1 million households annually from the current average [Energy Performance Certificate] Class D to the government’s Class C – which gives the average reduction in gas consumption per household Demand is 20%.”
The savings accumulated over the years can quickly become enormous—in 12 years, we saved a year’s worth of current housing gas needs.
According to a study by the Climate Change Council, “63% of households need to spend no more than £1,000 on retrofitting energy efficiency measures.”
The UK government has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, up from around 67,000 in 2021.ECIU wrote:
A heat pump for heating and hot water completely eliminates end-use gas consumption and will run £260 less a year than a gas boiler under the April price cap.These cost savings are due to the high efficiency of heat pumps and the fact that the electricity they use is increasingly generated by cheap North Sea offshore wind farms.
Our modelling suggests that the current average C-rated home will see an 80% reduction in gas use – this is not 100%, as the current grid mix includes about 40% gas-fired generation, which includes taking into account the efficiency of gas-fired power stations, Gas boiler and heat pump.
If insulation and heat pumps are incorporated into homes, “the UK could reduce gas demand by the equivalent of its Russian imports by as early as 2027.”
At the end of the day, the ECIU points out, more gas won’t reduce energy bills.Electrek agrees with its summary:
More insulation and heat pumps would cut spending, but it’s also a matter of national security right now.They can be installed to immediately begin reducing demand and imports, and coordinating deployment activities will make these savings a major contribution to ending our reliance on gas, reducing Putin’s power and the vulnerability of our poorest households to volatile gas markets.
This is a UK study for the UK, but any and all countries looking to get rid of Russian gas, or really just gas, should do so.Oops, everyone should get off.(America, we’re watching you.) Insulation isn’t sexy, but it’s certainly effortless.
The ECIU program reduces energy costs for homeowners.It reduces emissions.It increases national security.It makes the home warmer.This is a sustainable plan in many ways.
I am about to buy a house in Vermont and will be taking steps to install a heat pump to get rid of its existing propane heating system and add insulation where needed.I’ll report on how the process unfolded.
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Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor for Electrek and editor for DroneDJ, 9to5Mac and 9to5Google.She lives on the White River Junction in Vermont.She has previously worked for Fast Company, The Guardian, News Deeply, Time and more.Send Michelle a message on Twitter or Michelle@9to5mac.com.Check out her personal blog.