Everyday almost every UK household produces carbon dioxide through energy use. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
Our electricity is mainly generated from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. This process produces carbon dioxide. Although cars produce a lot of CO2, the amount pales in comparison to that emitted in the making of electricity.
6 tonnes of carbon dioxide are produced by the average house each year.
Carbon dioxide, combined with other gases, when emitted into the atmosphere form a blanket around the Earth, helping to prevent heat from escaping. Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature on Earth would be around -18 degrees centigrade, compared with the current average of around +15 degrees centigrade.
The increase in the temperature of our planet affects the weather, plants, animals and our health!
During the last 40 years, the UK’s winters have grown warmer, with heavier bursts of rain. The summers are growing drier and hotter.
If we are not careful, the kind of heat waves which killed thousands of people across Europe in 2003 could be commonplace in Britain by the end of this century.
Because of the change in temperature, many of the species of animals and plants that we traditionally associate with Britain may disappear. England’s green and pleasant lands may become brown and burnt.
A warmer climate in the UK could increase the number of people suffering from cataracts, skin cancer and even tropical diseases such as Dengue fever and West Nile virus. Even now, mosquitoes carrying such diseases are invading the US because of rising temperatures.
When we waste electricity in our homes, we are contributing to climate change. Things like insufficient insulation, leaving lights on unnecessarily or overfilling the kettle all waste energy and result in needless carbon dioxide emissions.
To slow down the greatest disaster which could affect our planet, it is clear that our electricity use needs to change.
