Archived press release

British Gas profits must be invested in saving energy

23 February 2006

Friends of the Earth today called on British Gas to invest more in energy efficiency measures after the company announced massive profits. It also called for further Government action to encourage energy supply companies to do more to help customers save energy and money.

The UK has moved from being a net exporter of gas to a net importer over the last few years. If the Government made energy efficiency a priority the UK could dramatically cut its gas consumption, reducing our dependency on imported gas, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The average home could save energy and cut bills by up to £250 a year through energy saving measures yet only 15 percent of UK homes are fully insulated.

Friends of the Earth Head of Campaigns Mike Childs said:

"Climate change is the greatest threat the world is facing. Companies like British Gas should be concentrating their efforts on making sure the fossil fuels they sell are used efficiently rather than wasted. The Government has an important role in providing incentives to energy companies to shift their focus to energy saving. The UK can not afford to waste so much gas and produce so much carbon dioxide."

Notes

The UK will need to produce much more of our energy from renewable energy sources in the long term if we are going to tackle climate change. However in the short term we will need to continue to rely on some fossil fuels, including natural gas. Gas is the least polluting fossil fuel - it releases less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels per unit of energy produced.

Although companies currently have to meet an Energy Efficiency Commitment this does not provide enough of an incentive and more savings could be made by making more stringent requirements for energy companies to save energy. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to introduce a trading scheme which reduces the amount of pollution energy companies can release via their consumers.

Thirty five per cent of gas is used for domestic supply, with 30 per cent used for electricity generation and the rest used in industry and service sector. DTI, UK Energy in Brief, 2005.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust