Let’s make Going Green easier: Our Net Zero ‘key facts’ guide
It can often feel impossible trying to keep up with the latest technologies being talked about in the fight against climate change – that’s why we’ve created a one-stop resource to make going green easier.
At the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), we identified a need to streamline knowledge sharing between those working to decarbonise the UK’s energy system. If we’re to hit the Net Zero targets set by the government by 2050 then effective pooling of information can and will be vital.
Enter the Energy technologies for net zero guide.
On behalf of the IET, researchers at the University of Strathclyde have created an easy-to-follow guide to act as a one-stop resource for policymakers, homeowners, and anyone in between who is committed to a low-carbon future. The guide provides key facts, not bogged down by jargon, into the options and technologies that will help lead us towards Net Zero.
Simon Edwards, IET’s Director of Governance and External Engagement, said: “The transition to Net Zero will rely on people and technology. It is vital that everyone has a good understanding of how technology can make that happen, what the options are and how they work.
“Technology enables us to dramatically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by changing where our energy comes from and how we use it. However, there is a wide range of technologies that might be used, and big decisions on the energy transition from policymakers are still to come.
“This guide is intended to give the key facts, so everyone can become more informed about the decisions they make, as well as the pathways the UK Government and industry may take, to reach a low carbon future.”
The data shows that the desire to decarbonise is there, but the know-how is not matching
The guide also provides a look to the future of Net Zero with a comparative analysis of what our decarbonised energy system could look like in 2050.
From the production of renewable energy sources to the ways in which homes are kept warm in winter, the A-Z guide covers every major Net Zero technology currently available.
The data shows that the desire to decarbonise is there, but the know-how is not matching. In fact, latest research shows that nearly two-thirds of Britons are worried about climate change but many are ‘clueless’ on the actions they could take to help cut carbon[1]. The IET’s new resource aims to fill that knowledge gap and empower more to make changes to their lives and in turn, inspire policy makers to help them.
Technologies like wind and solar are already leading the way in providing clean, cost-effective energy and initiatives like heat pumps and electric vehicles are proving popular at a governmental level. In tandem, this makes greater reliance on renewables an inevitability in the future. Making the knowledge behind these innovations more readily available to accelerate the adoption of these new technologies only makes sense.
While it’s not always easy to decipher what the best course of action is in achieving a Net Zero future, it is clear is that to many of us want to help along the way. IET’s new Energy technologies for Net Zero guide asks why shouldn’t making those decisions be made easier?
To find out more email publicaffairs@theiet.org
[1] Based on research by YouGov (October 2021)
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