Why save energy?

Generating the energy we use to heat, light and power our homes contributes to climate change.

What we do as individuals can make a real impact on Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions, as a significant proportion come from our everyday activities. If everyone takes steps to save energy, the combined effect will make a real difference.

Energy production and climate change

The supply of energy is essential to heat our homes, run businesses, deliver public services and to transport goods and people.

However, much of our power is still generated by burning fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - all of which release CO₂ as they burn. Once this greenhouse gas has been released into the atmosphere, it traps heat from the sun, resulting in global warming and changes to our climate.

In 2006 the largest emissions source in Scotland was CO2 from power stations which accounted for 32% of net Scottish emissions – with the largest proportion of this relating to electricity used to heat, light and power our homes. In addition, our households are estimated to directly account for a further 15% of Scottish greenhouse gas emissions through the combustion of gas, oil and solid fuels.

Renewable sources of energy - only part of the answer

Renewable energy sources, like wind farms and biomass power stations, are being tapped into more than ever before. However, lots of fuel gets burned transporting materials used to build them and in manufacturing their components.

In the case of biomass power - power from specially grown crops and waste wood - CO₂ is released during the generation process, and more during harvesting and transport of crops and waste.

Biomass is considered to be carbon neutral when burnt, which makes it better than burning coal, oil or gas, because it releases less CO2 overall than burning fossil fuels (partly because plants "soak up" the same amount of CO2 in the atmosphere when they grow as they do when burnt).

For these reasons, it's important that we all try to use less energy.

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