UK Household Energy Consumption Falls

HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION in England & Wales Falls Homes in England and Wales are using less energy than previously, new statistics have revealed... The Office for Natlonal Statistics has found that domestic customers consumed less enorgy per household In 2011 - the most recent flgures avallable - than In 2005. Poople llving In the East Midlands conslstontly used the most, whllst homes In the South West recorded the lowest usage In most of those years. It's good news for the environment and perhaps an indication that consumers are thinking more about energy conservation and switching to energy-saving light bulbs, sockets and appliances. ACCORDING TO THE ENERGY SAVING TRUST, EIGHT PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD'S ENERGY BILL 8o% GOES ON LIGHTING. So, just reviewing your lighting costs and replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs can make a difference to your pocket. There have also boon a number of European Unlon directives leading to Increased property Insulatlon, whlch helps to koop the heat In and fuel blls down. AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN ENGLAND AND WALES DECREASED BY 24.7% - ALMOST A QUARTER. In 2005 the avorage number of megawatt hours (mWh) used 2005 in a homo was 26.2, but by 2011 this had dropped to 19.7mWh. 2011 The most onorgy Is used In homos In the East Midlands. In 2005 the avorage housohold consumed 39mWh, but by 2011 thls had fallon to 27.5mWh - a decrease of 29.4%. And although less energy was used on average In homes In the West Midlands, thls area rocordod the largest decrease, with a fall of 30% from 29mWh In 2005 to 20.3mWh In 2011. The statistics for each area In 2011 are: EAST MIDLANDS 27.5mWh EAST 23.9mWh WEST MIDLANDS 20.3mWh SOUTH EAST 21.0mWh LONDON 19.2mWh YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER 18.6mWh NORTH WEST 18.3mWh NORTH EAST 18.1mWh WALES 16.3mWh SOUTH WEST 16.1mWh THE MAJORITY OF ENERGY USED IS GAS. ON AVERAGE ACROSS WALES AND ENGLAND, ALMOST THREE QUARTERS, OR 74.6%, OF THE ENERGY USED IS GAS COMPARED TO 25.4% ELECTRICITY. In the North East, gas accounts for 79.1% of the total energy used, with 20.9% of consumption accounted for by electricity. The lowest proportion of gas used is the South West, where it makes up 67.7% of energy consumption compared to 32.3% electricity. This could be explained by fewer homes receiving piped gas in this area. 25.4% 74.6% TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SAVING ENERGY IN YOUR HOME, GO TO www.SOCKETSTORE.CO.UK TO SEE OUR FULL RANGE OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTS AND READ OUR ADVICE-FILLED BLOG! Sucketstore Figures from Department of Energy and Climate Change factsheet: Energy consumption in the UK 2012 www.socketstore.co.uk