This page summarises the input we have received from our community on their 2022 CO2 emissions from home energy consumption. The purpose of the annual CO2 assessment is so that we can track our improvements over the long term towards reducing our CO2 emissions from home energy by 50% by 2030 and to zero by 2050. 

1. Please see the 2021 Home Energy CO2 assessment to understand the ‘baseline’ we set last year.
2. To help with planning for actions to reduce CO2 emissions from Home Energy emissions we have a ‘Home Energy Action‘ page.
3. Please click this link if you would like to provide or update your annual CO2 Self Assessment 

Summary

The average CO2 emissions for 2022 from home energy consumption reduced by 36% from 8,274kg to 5,296Kg.

• For the 2022 participants in the self assessment the average reduction was from an average of 7,835kg of CO2 in 2021 to 5,296Kg of CO2 emissions in 2022, a reduction of 32%.

The reduction was achieved through 2 main areas

1. No or low cost changes such as turning down the thermostat, improving draught proofing and thermal curtains. In addition switching fuel source from gas/oil to log burning.
   • On average these changes yielded a saving of 20-30%
2. Investments in solar panels, batteries and/or new heating technology
   • On average these changes yielded a saving of 30-70%

As the number of responses to the survey was significantly less than for 2021 we cannot conclude that we have a representative survey and that the overall average of CO2 emissions from home energy consumption for all Beech homes has reduced by 36%.

However, we can conclude:

1. Significant reductions of the order of 20-30% are possible without large investment
2. Very significant reductions of the order of 30-70% are possible with investment in current proven technology
3. 8% of our villagers reduced their CO2 emissions from home energy consumption by an average of 32%

Click on these links to go to straight to a specific section:

• Examples of our results
• A perspective on our total CO2 emissions
• Comments on the validity of the survey data
• Participation in the survey
• Log burning
• Analysis of 2022 survey results by house age
• Analysis of 2022 survey results by house EPC

Examples

Action taken by villagers in 2021 – 2022	Impact on CO2 emissions
Replacement of oil boiler with air source heat pump and solar panels.	-75%
Increased loft insulation and smarter heating controls with programmable thermostatic radiator valves.	-37%
Reduced usage through lower thermostat and thermal curtains	-23%

Perspective

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, March 2023 Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming, with global surface temperature reaching 1.1°C above 1850–1900 in 2011–2020. Global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions arising from unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report IPCC AR6.

We have used the IMPACT Community carbon calculator to understand our overall CO2 emissions per household and to then focus on the emissions from home energy consumption

CO2e total emissions per household	CO2e emissions from home energy consumption per household
This charts show the assessment of total CO2 emissions for a household in Beech of 28.3 metric tonnes or 28,300 kg. The chart compares this to the UK average per household of 15.8 metric tonnes (t) The chart also show the split of the 28.3t by type of which we have focused on Home Energy consumption which is the largest at 8.58t (8,580 kg) vs the UK average of 3.52t.	This chart is focused on Home Energy CO2 emissions. It takes the 8.58t from the left hand chart and compares this to: Our 2021 survey with an average of 8.27t per household who completed the survey Our 2022 survey with an average of 5.3t per household. The UK average of 3.52t per household

*CO₂e stands for “carbon dioxide equivalent” and is a standard unit of measurement in carbon accounting. It expresses the impact of a number of different gases collectively as a common unit.

Comment on the validity of our data

As a minimum 8% of our villagers reduced their CO2 emissions by an average of 32% in 2022.

In considering the overall CO2 reductions for Beech in 2022 we should consider a number of factors:

1. The survey responses probably have a very strong positive bias to report results where changes have been made to reduce CO2 emissions
2. Energy prices soared in 2022
   
   • • Given the very significant increases in the costs of electricity, gas and oil we would expect very significant reductions in usage and also a transfer to log burning (see Log burning)
3. Electricity is becoming ‘greener’
   
   • • Our electricity is generated using a mixture of renewable and non renewable energy sources. This mix is changing year to year with a planned increase in renewables.
     • Approx 22% of home energy CO2 emissions was from electricity in 2021. The renewable mix in electricity improved by 8% in 2022, hence the average CO2 home energy emissions would reduce by 2%
4. 2022 was a relative warm year
   • • Whilst December was colder than normal, 2022 was the warmest year on record. On this basis we would expect CO2 emissions from home heating to be lower in 2022 than 2021

Log burning

Log burning may emit less CO2 as it is a potentially ‘renewable’ source. However, log burning does potentially impact ‘air quality’ and health depending on the type of fuel and burner used.

• The UK government has published a ‘Clean Air Strategy‘.
• The UK Consumers Association have published guidance on ‘Wood Burning stoves‘

Participation

We received 21 responses to our survey of which 20 provided a self assessment of their CO2 emissions for 2022.

1. This represents 9% of the homes in the parish (8% reported CO2 emissions)
2. This is a significant decline in response from the previous year of 52
   • A number of previous respondents did not provide a 2022 self assessment as they had not made any changes to their homes or usage.

CO2 emissions

The average C02 emissions from home energy consumption in the 2 surveys reduced by 36% from 8,274 kg to 5,296 kg.

CO2 emissions by house age

The table below summarises the data from the 2021 and 2022 surveys by house age.

CO2 emissions by house Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

The table below summarises the data from the 2021 and 2022 surveys by house EPC.