The government has introduced a new energy strategy which is set to drastically reduce the country’s carbon emissions and therefore help to mitigate the effects of global climate change.
Although the complex strategy was immediately praised for its realistic solutions and detailed targets, many commented on how the strategy was clearly designed to take effect after 4-5 years, instead of impacting the energy crisis immediately.
It could be argued, quick and efficient changes for short term goals, such as providing funding for double glazed windows and energy efficient home solutions would be more beneficial to the current issues that the country is facing, such as the supply and cost of living increase.
The issues are set to be addressed by 2030. This allows the government plenty of time to allow their process to make a difference and resolve each energy-efficiency problem.
To set a lengthy time period is of course understandable. However, there are particular affairs that should take priority and need to be addressed urgently with the proposed solutions.
Some of the urgent issues include, addressing the energy supply, the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine. These are problems which should be addressed immediately, otherwise the short term effects could lead to crucial implications.
Some of the ideas which have been put forward within this strategy are the seven new nuclear reactors and a fivefold increase of offshore wind capacity, which would only start to take effect by the end of the decade.
It has been commented that these solutions are far too vague and aren’t suited for the short term.
If Russian hydrocarbons are banned before next winter, prices are likely to spike even further. This could lead to a supply shock; it has been argued that the only way to resolve this is by reducing the demand.
The government is aware of this; however, they have only stated that their first steps of the strategy are to effectively lower energy bills across 4-5 years.
Many have argued that simple solutions such as funding provided to a leading glazing company of double glazed windows could effectively resolve this.
Earlier this week it was stated that number 10 were asking for an extension of the Energy Company Obligation Scheme.
This uses the money raised from energy bills to provide funding for double glazed uPVC windows and doors for low income households.
An extension would mean the scheme would reach those on benefits. This would mean that more people would have gained access to the energy efficient solutions within their households.
The energy efficiency strategy will not only help reduce carbon emissions but it will also help to reduce the reliance on foreign gas and homeowners will be able to cut their energy bills Rishi Sunak has attempted to reduce the cost of living through a generous tax rebate and a £200 loan towards energy bills.
However, due to the overly complicated and confused demographic targeting, these proposals will no doubt will over looked and could potentially miss the mark, failing to achieve the desired results.
It has been noticed by Helen Barnard of Joseph Rountree Foundation that the 2.4 billion that was lost by cutting fuel duty would have cut the cost of fuel duty would have paid for insulation and other energy efficiency home improvements for a third of housing within the country.
According to a market leading double glazing supplier”, the new energy efficiency strategy could reduce heating bills for low income and poorly insulated homes by £500.
In previous times, the energy efficient solutions have been scrapped due to the lack of access and funding for the supplies.
However, the strategy states the industry will set be to build two large new reactors, so adding double glazed windows from a reputable double glazing supplier and wall cavities shouldn’t really be an issue.
It could be argued that a nuclear power plant could be slight overreaction, when the current issues could be resolved with new uPVC double glazed windows and an energy efficient water tank! Long term strategies and big projects work well, but these affairs will change day by day.
It’s important that we as a country also urgently adapt to the short term issues to effectively otherwise small unaddressed problems could escalate causing a bigger problem.
In conclusion, the issues which have been addressed in the new energy efficiency strategy, have the potential to be quickly resolved with new energy efficient double glazed windows or other energy efficient home improvements.
There are many other issues which require immediate attention and should be taking priority, such as the supply crisis.
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