The UK could hit Net Zero two years sooner if energy firms focus on cutting household energy waste, according to a supplier.
Utilita Energy has submitted a white paper to the government this week on helping domestic customers to cut waste as a key step towards reaching Net Zero earlier than the 2050 deadline.
Addressing Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, the white paper questions why the government has overlooked the importance of cutting energy waste.
It is underpinned by new evidence revealing that households can and will use up to 19% less energy, if they are given the technology to do so, a statement said.
Utilita’s Smart Score app measures each customers’ energy efficiency and offers tips and advice on how to use and waste less energy around the home.
Utilita Energy CEO Bill Bullen said: “We’re in the midst of a climate emergency and energy efficiency behaviour can’t be overlooked any longer. The more energy we save, the closer we get to the UK’s net zero target. 2019 emissions from residential energy usage accounted for 15% of emissions and was the fourth largest source of emissions behind businesses, energy supply and transport. It can’t be ignored.
“Our data has confirmed that right now, as much as one fifth of the energy supplied to UK homes is being wasted, so we made it our mission to put an end to that. Smart Score makes this possible. If all energy companies joined us in helping UK homes to use less energy, we could collectively speed up the race to reaching Net Zero by as much as two years.”