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The remaining potential for energy savings in UK households

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  • Rosenow, Jan
  • Guertler, Pedro
  • Sorrell, Steven
  • Eyre, Nick

Abstract

Progress on improving energy efficiency of UK homes has stalled in recent years and the question arises how much more potential for further energy savings exist across the housing stock. Whilst there are some high-level estimates of the potential for buildings energy efficiency in the UK, a more granular assessment is needed to understand exactly where this potential lies and what form it takes. Our analysis fills this gap. It is based on the best available evidence on the remaining potential for energy efficiency improvements within UK residential buildings. Using UK government criteria for investment appraisal, we demonstrate that there is a significant resource of untapped energy-saving opportunities in UK homes. Specifically, our estimates suggest that: one quarter of the energy currently used in UK households could be cost effectively saved by 2035; and this could increase to one half if allowance is made for falling technology costs and the wider benefits of energy efficiency improvements. However, these estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made about capital, energy and carbon costs, and capturing this potential will require both significant policy change and large-scale investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosenow, Jan & Guertler, Pedro & Sorrell, Steven & Eyre, Nick, 2018. "The remaining potential for energy savings in UK households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 542-552.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:121:y:2018:i:c:p:542-552
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.06.033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chitnis, Mona & Sorrell, Steve, 2015. "Living up to expectations: Estimating direct and indirect rebound effects for UK households," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(S1), pages 100-116.
    2. Rosenow, Jan & Platt, Reg & Demurtas, Andrea, 2014. "Fiscal impacts of energy efficiency programmes—The example of solid wall insulation investment in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 610-620.
    3. Sorrell, Steve & Dimitropoulos, John & Sommerville, Matt, 2009. "Empirical estimates of the direct rebound effect: A review," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 1356-1371, April.
    4. Rosenow, Jan, 2012. "Energy savings obligations in the UK—A history of change," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 373-382.
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    6. Bobrova, Yekatherina & Papachristos, George & Cooper, Adam, 2022. "Process perspective on homeowner energy retrofits: A qualitative metasynthesis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
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    8. Oluwatobiloba Stephanie Ogunrin & Inna Vorushylo & Oghenovo Okpako & Neil Hewitt, 2022. "Domestic Energy Efficiency Scenarios for Northern Ireland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-26, April.
    9. Siedlecka, Agnieszka, 2020. "Pro-Environmental Activities Of Rural Households In The Scope Of Reducing Electricity Consumption," Roczniki (Annals), Polish Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness - Stowarzyszenie Ekonomistow Rolnictwa e Agrobiznesu (SERiA), vol. 2020(2).
    10. Daniel Scamman & Baltazar Solano-Rodríguez & Steve Pye & Lai Fong Chiu & Andrew Z. P. Smith & Tiziano Gallo Cassarino & Mark Barrett & Robert Lowe, 2020. "Heat Decarbonisation Modelling Approaches in the UK: An Energy System Architecture Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-28, April.
    11. Marcos García-López & Borja Montano & Joaquín Melgarejo, 2023. "The Influence of Photovoltaic Self-Consumption on Water Treatment Energy Costs: The Case of the Region of Valencia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, July.
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    13. Broad, Oliver & Hawker, Graeme & Dodds, Paul E., 2020. "Decarbonising the UK residential sector: The dependence of national abatement on flexible and local views of the future," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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