Thursday 13 November 2003 - News - Natural disaster
Save energy to stop flooding
Consumers
are failing to make the link between their energy consumption at
home and the risk that their property will be flooded, it was claimed
today.
With over two million UK homes at risk of flooding this winter, the Energy Saving Trust issued a warning to all UK residents to immediately reduce the amount of energy used in the home.
Carbon dioxide, which is sent up into the atmosphere through the burning of gas, coal and oil, is the chief greenhouse gas that is overheating the atmosphere. This process in turn leads to freak weather conditions and increasing the risk of storms, flooding, drought and heatwaves. If consumers burned less of these fossil fuels, the impact of greenhouse gases on the climate would be reduced, said the Trust.
Phillip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: "The UK bill for flood damage was a staggering £700 million last year, so it is important that we all take the time to look at how our actions in the home are affecting the environment.
"While there is no short term solution to coastal and localised flooding, our own homes are an intrinsic part of the problem and are responsible for a quarter of all UK carbon dioxide emissions, which is having a direct impact on the weather patterns around us."
The Energy Saving Trust has urged householders to take energy saving measures this autumn and in years to come. It said one of the most effective ways is to install a high efficiency condensing boiler. If every home in the UK had one, it would prevent 17.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted every year.
The UK would also make a collective annual saving of £1.2 billion worth of energy. If everyone insulated their homes' cavity walls, the saving would be 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted every year. It would also save £670 million worth of energy a year.
Max Herd
With over two million UK homes at risk of flooding this winter, the Energy Saving Trust issued a warning to all UK residents to immediately reduce the amount of energy used in the home.
Carbon dioxide, which is sent up into the atmosphere through the burning of gas, coal and oil, is the chief greenhouse gas that is overheating the atmosphere. This process in turn leads to freak weather conditions and increasing the risk of storms, flooding, drought and heatwaves. If consumers burned less of these fossil fuels, the impact of greenhouse gases on the climate would be reduced, said the Trust.
Phillip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: "The UK bill for flood damage was a staggering £700 million last year, so it is important that we all take the time to look at how our actions in the home are affecting the environment.
"While there is no short term solution to coastal and localised flooding, our own homes are an intrinsic part of the problem and are responsible for a quarter of all UK carbon dioxide emissions, which is having a direct impact on the weather patterns around us."
The Energy Saving Trust has urged householders to take energy saving measures this autumn and in years to come. It said one of the most effective ways is to install a high efficiency condensing boiler. If every home in the UK had one, it would prevent 17.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted every year.
The UK would also make a collective annual saving of £1.2 billion worth of energy. If everyone insulated their homes' cavity walls, the saving would be 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted every year. It would also save £670 million worth of energy a year.
Max Herd
