A recent survey has thrown light on how much the British public really knows about energy.
The survey of 2,058 British adults, conducted by polling consultancy ComRes on behalf of the National Energy Foundation (NEF), found that:
- Only half of those surveyed correctly identified which type of light bulb uses the least energy (LED) and 35% incorrectly thought that low voltage halogen lights use the least
- Only one in 10 adults say they know how much energy their workplace uses, while eight out of 10 believe that private employers and the government should provide training and education to teach the public to use energy more efficiently. This compares to the six in 10 who believe that technology will solve our energy problems
- Although 58% of British adults say they feel well-informed about energy issues, 59% also don’t know that the majority of the UK’s electricity supply comes from fossil fuels.
The survey was commissioned as background to the launch of the NEF’s ‘Working together towards an energy-literate UK’ programme.
Kerry Mashford, chief executive of the NEF, said:
“Improving the use of energy in buildings is the National Energy Foundation’s overarching objective. Over the past few months, we’ve been giving some serious thought to the big energy issues facing the UK, with a view to achieving significant impact in terms of reducing energy consumption, improving energy security and reducing fuel poverty.
“These survey results confirm that action needs to be taken to inform and empower individuals and organisations.”
On Wednesday 17 September, the NEF held a reception at Dame Mary Archer’s London penthouse to announce the full results of the survey and share ideas to address the issues raised.