Why do I feel punished for reducing my carbon footprint?

[Twinkle17]

Last October, 2023 my gas boiler broke. Thinking it is a good opportunity to switch my home’s energy source to be less gas dependent, I decided not to hurry into getting a new gas boiler. Instead, I only needed to make sure I have a working hot shower. Therefore, I had my bathroom installed with an electric shower 8.5kW. Thereafter entered the winter season. Since I managed to live with minimum gas heating in 2022, I decided that I will do the same in 2023. In a two bedroom and one living room, we have three electric heaters to heat where and when as needed - Philips 3-in-1 space heater purifier (3 settings 1.2, 1.7, 2.4kW), Curry’s electric convector 2kW, and Princess Smart Glass Heater 1.5kW.

With this setting, I worked out, I must have reduced GHG (green house gases) by 215 kg in 5 month, November to March. This is because, according to my energy bill the amount of energy supplied by gas was an average of 310kWh in 2022/23 from the period November to March. In comparison, the amount of gas has been reduced to 80kWh/ month in 2023/24. Therefore, by switching to electric shower this has resulted in 200kWh reduction of gas usage by each month.

The calculation of 215kg reduced GHG emission is based on the assumption that 215g of carbon dioxide is emitted per 1kWh of energy supplied by natural gas with information provided by Viessmann UK. What this means is, if a mature tree absorb around 21kg of carbon dioxide per year, to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide of 215kg would require planting a total of 10 trees. So far, all is good with mathematics. I have been able to save some carbon emission after all by going electric as the energy supplier I used claims their electricity is produced by green energy.

Until, I have a plan to refurbish my bathroom. A bathroom fitter came and we discussed what appliances I will need. He says if I continue to remain electricity heavy, to keep the bathroom warm through electrical heating, underfloor heating, and electric shower/bath it will cost A LOT!! I will not argue with him.

As I already calculated that my electricity usage has increased by 200kWh/ month in 2023/24 compared to the same period the previous year. The amount that I pay is arguably the same between these two winters because the increased of electricity used has been offset by the lower electricity rate we are paying. The cost of electricity was at the range of 33.7p/kWh for 2022/23 and 27p/kWh for 2023/24. This has resulted in average payment of £180/ month or the coldest month nearly £250!

Also, the bathroom fitter commented that my house feels chill and damp overall as heater is only switched on in designated rooms. He claims this is bad for the house’s construction in the long run. So what should I do? Should I now consider to install a new condenser boiler, though more efficient but still produces carbon nevertheless?

To me, this feels like switching back to an old route. How much more time do we have to continue emitting carbon when the world’s GHG is already creating unprecedented crisis for most inhabitants? If I have a choice, of course not reverting to fossil gas energy will be my choice. But why do I need to pay three times more and live in cold damp house for choosing to reduce GHG emission?

I guess what I am stressing is what is the government’s goal in combatting climate change? For an average citizen, it is no brainer to stick to lower cost in energy bill. But is this what the government is aiming for because to combat climate change, the biggest army is for citizens to make better choices. But how can an average citizen continue to pay TAXES and BILLs at the same time? I have not been hosting any friends this winter because to do so, I will need to heat up all areas for a considerable amount of hours.

The substantial amount that I am already paying is the result of living in a house of having a living room of 3 degrees in the morning in the colder months. Taking a shower means trying to get into the room to change because it takes longer to get the bathroom to warm up than to finish a shower. Besides it is also uneconomical to warm up the bathroom when you spend less time in it. I am lucky to be working away from home and a child who goes to school so it means less heating energy when we are not at home in the weekdays. Even that, I am paying up to £250 month for energy, and it sometimes feel it all adds up to nothing as my social life at home has been impeded of the scare of switching on too many appliances for too long.

According to Ofgem, the average monthly electricity use in a house is about 2700kWh for electricity and 11,500kWh for gas. This spreads out to a monthly of 225kWh of electricity and 1,000kWh for gas. But, in my case by switching to less gas dependent, my usage is estimated to be 2.5 to 3 times higher for electricity and 5 to 10 times lower in gas than the average household in the UK. It is clear the fossil fuels that I am burning is considerably less but how can I keep up with the electricity bill?

Should I listen to the advice of the bathroom fitter to install gas boiler and enjoy more warmth in winter? Or continue living minimally and meagerly with electric usage? Can the government consider helping citizens so we feel compelling enough to switch to power our activities with electric rather than fossil fuels?

Gas is cheaper per kWh than electricity. In the long term that may change but in the meantime, why not look into getting a heat pump? I believe octopus make one which runs at the same temperature as a gas boiler so no need to upgrade boilers etc.

The government fucked up not investing in renewables fast enough nationally and we are still too reliant on gas. It is frustrating.

You could install an air or ground source heat pump and perhaps solar panels.

If your house is suitable and you can afford the outlay, including the cost of buying and installing any extra insulation, piping, radiators, water tank etc.

Heat pump installation requires huge amount and also, I have heard argument that without proper insulation and a compatible house built, heat pump do not create a warm enough space for the home.

I already have a solar power which generates 3.6kWh at the best sunshine day. In winter, it only contributes to very few hours of energy production. But it help save in summer though.

Yes, I am already reducing GHG emission but the energy company is making me pay more! This is something I could not get my head around?! Which way is governance and active policing going??

Well currently all the carbon taxes are on electricity, but more carbon is emitted by gas so that's one reason it's costing you more unfortunately. Govt did say they were going to sort this but of course it istricky to make gas more expensive and expensive just to make electricity cheaper so it needs a long term plan. Not the government's strong point I fear...

Another reason is you are using direct electric heat for water and room heating not heat pumps - heat pumps are 2,3 and sometimes even 4 times more efficient because they use electricity to draw more heat from the air rather than just directly creating it. This brings the cost of electric heat a lot closer to gas costs.

Your third problem if your house gets so cold overnight sounds like not enough insulation and draft proofing.

There are a number of options to heat your rooms and hot water with heat pumps, the best choice depends on the size of your house, how much insulation you have and want, whether you already have radiators and how many/how big/what condition; whether you have space for a hot water tank (or have one already); whether you would also like the option of cooling in summer, also whether you have a garden or balcony. Etc.

Heat pumps working off radiators (the commonest kind) do best running at a low background heat for long hours so this is a great help to combat damp. With a hot water tank they can also do hot water.

In a small house though you might also look into an air to air heat pump that just blows warm (or cooled, if you want it) air direct into the room. These are much commoner in europe eg most holiday apartments have them. These cost less to buy and need no plumbing. They don't do hot water though and i am not sure if they get the same grant.

There are government grants available for some options; some companies (I think Octopus might be one) offer a heat pump installation at a set price but I would guess they have preconditions.eg about house size and insulation . Some insulation and draft proofing meaures are quite cheap and pay for themselves quickly eg cavity wall, loft top-ups etc. Some draft proofing can be done diy. Low cost insulation is always worth doing and there are some grants for this too though not sure about eligibility? Look up "great British Insulation scheme" for example.

It is not always easy to get good advice, the best installers tend to be busy but spring is an ideal time to start a bit of research and maybe get some quotes or at least, proposed designs and start planning ahead, even if this is for a longer term improvement.

Thanks for this, I will look at some of the suggestions and hopefully the schemes for reducing energy cost is available for me. But, it is just so unfair to think that although I am trying to play a small part in reducing carbon footprint, I have been punished for this decision. This smells like the framework is not well intended for combatting climate change as of now, the policy do not encourage incremental small changes by citizens. In every revolution, small acts of citizen's are what contributes to a great shift.

That's why the octopus heat pump is (apparently) a game changer, the temperature it heats the water to is the same as a gas boiler so no need for upgrades on your insulation or radiators.

And you still get the heat pump grant, so it potentially costs less to install than a gas boiler. I think it's called the cosy 6 from Googling

Re the damp. My son and partner have bought a dehumidifier this winter. They're in a flat. Two loads of washing dry in a day and no more condensation. The flat feels warmer too.