Publication URN: 12D/291

Energy consumption in the United Kingdom: 2012 Domestic energy consumption in the UK since 1970
This factsheet provides a brief overview of energy consumption from the domestic sector in the UK and how it has changed since 1970. It provides a summary of the trends and considers some of the drivers that have influenced energy consumption in this sector. This factsheet is based on data from DECCs annual publication Energy consumption in the UK which was published on Thursday 26 July 2012: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/ecuk/ecuk.aspx Queries on the content of this factsheet should be sent to Sabena.Khan@decc.gsi.gov.uk

Summary
1. In 2011, energy consumption from the domestic sector was 38,842 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent. This was 5 per cent higher than in 1970, but 5 per cent lower than in 1990 and 20 per cent lower than in 2010. The sharp fall between 2010 and 2011 is a combination of an unusually high level of consumption in 2010 - largely driven by colder temperatures, a warmer than usual year in 2011, and the continued rollout of energy efficiency measures in homes. The 2011 figure shows a return to a longer term trend, with energy consumption falling since 2004. 2. The 5 per cent fall since 1990 is set in the context of an increase of 19 per cent in the number of UK households and a 10 per cent increase in the UK population. At a per household level, energy consumption has fallen by 20 per cent since 1990. 3. In 2011 domestic consumption was 26 per cent of total UK final consumption of energy products.

Domestic sector energy consumption by fuel type

4. The fuel mix for domestic consumption has significantly changed since 1970 when 39 per cent of consumption was coal, 24 per cent natural gas and 18 per cent electricity; this changed to 8 per cent coal, 63 per cent gas and 20 per cent electricity in 1990; and to 1 per cent coal, 65 per cent natural gas and 25 per cent electricity in 2011 as shown in Chart 1.

Chart 1: Domestic consumption by fuel, UK, 1970 to 2011

100%

90%

Petroleum

80%

Percentage of total domestic consumption

Bioenergy and waste

70%

Heat sold

60%

Electricity (including renewable electricity) Natural gas

50%

40%

Other solid fuels

30%

Coke and breeze

20%

Coal

10%

0% 1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.1

Domestic sector energy consumption by end use

5. The majority of energy consumed in the domestic sector is for space heating which in 2011 represented 60 per cent of total domestic consumption. Water heating and lighting and appliances accounted for a further 18 and 19 per cent respectively with cooking accounting for a further 3 per cent. 6. Since 1970, there has been a continued fall in the proportion of energy used for water heating and cooking, and a continued rise in the proportion used for lighting and appliances. Space heating remained the primary use of energy in the home over the whole period. 7. Compared to 2010, the amount of energy used for water heating, cooking, lighting and appliances in 2011 has not changed significantly, but there has been a large reduction in the amount used for space heating (mainly reflecting the different temperatures observed in these years). 8. Chart 3 displays the inverse relationship between energy used per household for space heating and external temperature during the main heating season (January to March and October to December).

Chart 2: Domestic final energy consumption by end use, UK, 1970 to 2011
60,000 Total Space heating Water Lighting and appliances Cooking

50,000

Thousand tonnes of oil equivalent

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.6

Chart 3: Space heating consumption per household and heating season outside temperatures, UK, 1970 to 2011
180 Space heating per household Average external temperature (January to March and October to December) 160

140

120

Index: 2011 = 100

100

80

60

40

20

0 1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Tables 3.3, 3.6 and 3.16

Use of electricity by appliance type

9. Chart 4 shows the total amount of electricity consumption by household domestic appliances between 1970 and 2011, which illustrates its steady growth of around 1.7 per cent per year over this period.
Chart 4: Electricity consumption by household domestic appliance, by broad type, UK, 1970 to 2011
2,000 Light 1,800 Wet Home computing Cold Consumer electronics Cooking

1,600
Thousand tonnes of oil equivalent

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0 1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.10

10. In 2011, consumer electronics were the largest consuming domestic appliances group with an estimated consumption of 1,839 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent, followed by wet appliances with an estimated consumption of 1,271 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent and cold appliances with an estimated consumption of 1,192 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent. 11. Between 1970 and 2011, electricity consumption from consumer electronics increased by 369 per cent, wet appliances by 146 per cent and cold appliances by 100 per cent. Home computing, which had no recorded energy use in 1970, rose to 569 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent in 2011. 12. Since 1990 electricity consumption from consumer electronics increased by 74 per cent and wet appliances by 23 per cent, whilst electricity consumption from lighting appliances and cold appliances fell by 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, reflecting improved efficiency (see paragraph 16). Home computing rose by 356 per cent between 1990 and 2011. 4

13. The only notable change between 2010 and 2011 was a 9 per cent fall in energy use for lighting appliances (reflecting the continued move from standard light bulbs to energy saving alternatives).

Domestic energy consumption per head and by income

14. Factors affecting domestic energy consumption include the number of households, the population and household income. These factors can be used to measure the energy intensity in the domestic sector and are shown in Chart 5 below. 15. Energy consumption per unit of household disposable income has reduced by 40 per cent since 1990, whilst energy consumption per household has reduced by 20 per cent and energy consumption per person reduced by 13 per cent.
Chart 5: Domestic energy consumption per person, per household and per unit of household income, UK, 1970 to 2011
180 Energy consumption per household 160 Energy consumption per person Energy consumption per unit of household disposable income 140

120
Index: 1990 = 100

100

80

60

40

20

0 1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.4

Energy efficiency improvements appliances and insulation

16. Improvements in energy efficiency have helped to reduce total domestic energy consumption in the UK, both through improvements to the energy efficiency of appliances (such as fridges/freezers, light bulbs, and so on) but also through improving the energy efficiency of buildings through insulation and more energy efficiency heating systems. 5

17. Energy efficiency for new cold appliances (Chart 6) improved most for chest freezers which consumed 65 per cent less electricity in 2011 than in 1990. Over the same period energy consumption for new upright freezers fell by 57 per cent, for new refrigerators by 46 per cent, and for fridge freezers by 49 per cent. For wet appliances (Chart 7), efficiency improvements have been greatest in new dishwashers which demonstrated a 38 per cent improvement, and washing machines with a 31 per cent improvement.
Chart 6: Average energy consumption of new cold appliances, UK, 1990 to 2011
120 Chest Freezer Fridge-freezer Refrigerator Upright Freezer

100

80
Index: 1990 = 100

60

40

20

0 1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.13

Chart 7: Average energy consumption of new wet appliances, UK, 1990 to 2011
140 Washing Machine 120 Washer-dryer Dishwasher Tumble Dryer

100

Index: 1990 = 100

80

60

40

20

0 1990

1995

2000

2005

2011

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.13

18. In the UK the main types of insulation are loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, double glazing and hot water tank insulation. Chart 8 below, shows how improved insulation and heating efficiency have reduced energy for space heating in the UK.

Chart 8: Savings due to better insulation and heating efficiency, UK, 1970 to 2007
100,000

90,000

80,000

Thousand tonnes of oil equivalent

70,000 Heating systems efficiency energy saving Insulation energy saving

60,000

50,000

40,000

Actual energy consumption

30,000

20,000

10,000

0 1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2007

Source: DECC, ECUK Table 3.18

19. The combined savings from insulation and heating efficiency improvements reduced domestic space heating by an estimated 41.2 million tonnes of oil equivalent. Without these improvements it is estimated that energy consumption would have been twice as high as its current level.