Go Zero

LONDON, UK, June 13, 2007. A survey by the largest power supplier in the United Kingdom shows that 4.5% of homeowners plan to add solar panels within the next year.

Currently, 1.4% of homes claim to use solar panels as an energy saving measure, indicates new research by npower. The power supplier sells the green power ‘Juice’ product at no extra cost and generated from a number of renewable energy sources, primarily the North Hoyle offshore windfarm. npower matches every unit of electricity that its ‘Juice’ customers use and feeds the same amount of green power into the grid.

The company’s Tickbox survey of 1,192 adults was conducted in May and a secondary base of 885 homeowners around Britain.

Double glazing windows are the highest current energy saving measure used at 86%, while another 5% plan to change within the next year. Loft or cavity wall insulation was 77% and 9%, while energy-efficient light bulbs were 77% and 12% planned for next year.

“Green eco-friendly electricity from renewable sources” is used by 3.6% of respondents, and another 4.9% plan to use it within the year. While solar panels are used by 1.4% and planned by 4.5%, wind turbines are used by 0.1% and planned by 2.6%, the survey shows.

“Despite signs that Brits are becoming more environmentally aware, new research by the UK’s largest electricity supplier has shown that as few as 5% are considering changing to green electricity from renewable sources, while nearly three-quarters (70%) have no plans to make their homes greener,” the results conclude. “Microgeneration measures that enable consumers to produce their own energy and dramatically reduce or even cancel utility bills, haven’t yet reached critical mass, with only 2.6% of consumers considering installing a wind turbine and 4.5% considering switching to solar panels in the future.”

“Consumers believe that changing energy to greener alternatives is complicated and expensive, but it is the simple, little things you can do that help save you money and the environment at the same time,” explains Robert Harper of npower. “Switching to energy saving light bulbs can help reduce your carbon emissions by 48 kg per year, while reducing your lighting costs by up to £100.”

When considering changing energy to more efficient alternatives, consumers were most influenced by saving money (77%), followed by environmental concerns (67%), preserving the world for future generations (46%) and pressure and guilt from the media (7%). The research illustrated that the most popular forms of energy saving measures within the home, were also the cheapest and easiest, including switching to energy saving light bulbs and loft or cavity wall insulation.

With renewable forms of energy evolving on a daily basis, one quarter of respondents (27%) believe that we will soon be using cars run on cooking oil and grease from battered food, while 6% think electricity generated from cow manure is the way of the future.

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