CO2 Simple Guide

CO2 makes up 85% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. The largest proportion of CO2 comes from the generation of electricity.

In 2006, the UK produced 531 million tonnes of CO2. 115 million tonnes of this came from electricity generated for industrial and commercial use. 66 million tonnes came from the electricity generated for domestic consumption.

The Climate Change Act of 2008 resulted in targets for the reduction of CO2 being imposed. Carbon emissions will be reduced by at least 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) comes into effect in 2010 creating incentives and penalties to encourage large energy users, including local authorities, to seek ways of reducing emissions.

Each kWh of energy used creates 0.537 kg of CO2. This is equivalent of operating a typical domestic electric fan oven for about one hour.

A local authority with 30,000 traditional street lights operating for 4,000 hours each year will produce a little over 182,000 tonnes of CO2 over a 25 year period which would occupy a space roughly the length and breadth of Wembley Stadium and high enough to touch the edge of Earth’s atmosphere.

LED lighting can cut CO2 emissions from between 40% and 70% depending on the type of lighting presently installed in residential areas and so is an important solution to climate change and sustainability challenges.

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