Energy includes the electricity that powers modern life, industries, homes, and the digital economy. Heat, as a subset of energy, sustains life and comfort, and accounts for nearly half of the world’s energy demand (while contributing more than 40% of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions). In Scotland, heat is primarily used for residential and commercial heating, water heating, and industrial processes. The transition to sustainable energy and heat systems is essential to achieving climate targets, with renewable energy, efficiency, and heat decarbonisation at the forefront of this transformation.
We are collectively working towards a vision which includes
- Replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources, also known as ‘decarbonisation.’
- Upgrading insulation and otherwise retrofitting all homes and businesses, to prevent wasteful heat loss
- Transitioning to electrified heat systems, such as heat pumps and district heating.
- Ensuring the highest possible percentage of community ownership of the infrastructure that enables the above, so as to maximise community wealth and social equity
The picture below is indicative of the carbon footprint of various sources, tracking changes from 1990 to 2022. Although there is still much work to do to reduce our greenhouse emissions, it is okay to allow ourselves to celebrate the progress that we have made to date.
Interested in getting more involved? E-mail the East Lothian Climate Hub Manager and Energy and Heat Theme Lead Bobby at bobby@eastlothianclimatehub.org for any questions, comments, or if you would like to volunteer and get more involved with collective action in this theme across East Lothian.