Moves towards sustainable energy in the UK are being hampered by old ways of thinking, according to a major new report published by Foresight - the Government's futures think tank.
The study - Powering Our Lives: Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment looks at how the country's buildings and spaces will need to evolve to help cut carbon emissions.
The report concludes that the UK is 'locked-in' to using certain forms of energy - not because they are better but because they have historically dominated over other options. This has created significant inertia because using a new form of energy also means changes in the infrastructure and the regulations to support it.
Professor John Beddington, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of the Foresight Programme, said:
"The energy used to power buildings is responsible for over 50% of UK carbon emissions. Urgent action needs to be taken if we are going to meet the 80% emissions target outlined by the Government in the Climate Change Bill.
"We need to think again about how we produce and use energy and this report explores the link between the energy we use to power our lives and the places we use it in. This study offers a range of proposals for Government to consider on energy production while giving food for thought to all of us about the energy we use".
The report, sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, concludes that there is no 'magic bullet' to reduce carbon emissions or 'decarbonise' the energy we use. However, it does propose behavioural and regulatory changes, which could be introduced over the next 50 years, to overcome this inertia.
Three keys areas for change are:
Upgrading of buildings and spaces to be more carbon neutral.
Urgent attention is needed to improve the energy performance of existing buildings - although targets have been set for new homes, it is estimated nearly 70% of housing stock in 2050 will have been built before 2000.
'MOT tests' to annually assess the energy efficiency of buildings could be a useful tool to make households and firms think about energy performance on a regular basis rather than ignoring it.
A move to decentralised energy systems
Decentralised energy is energy generated closer to the place where it is used, so that any losses in transmission of electricity or heat are reduced. It can mean a solar hot water panel on a house, a combined heat and power system for a block of flats, or a larger power plant in a city centre or a rural area.
The report calls for the provision of more varied, decentralised energy options to expand the use of renewable energy.
Human behaviours in the built environment
Human behaviour determines energy use as much as building design. People have not yet responded at the scale and pace needed to meet future emissions targets - the benefits for doing so need to be made clear and incentives offered.
Professor Beddington added:
"Homes built in the future will be more carbon neutral, however the vast majority of buildings pre-date our awareness of emissions and climate change - these are where quick-wins can be achieved.
"Bringing older housing stock's energy efficiency up to standard should be a priority - providing the right incentives and support are offered to encourage homeowners, business, housing authorities and local government to change their thinking".
