Energy Saving Day a Flop

The UK’s first try at a Energy Saving Day has ended with no noticeable reduction in the country’s electricity usage. E-Day efforts asked people to switch off electrical devices they did not need over a period of 24 hours and the National Grid would monitor consumption changes.

The results showed that electricity usage was almost exactly what would have been expected without E-Day. Several factors may have contributed to the findings. There were colder temperatures than forecast in some regions most likely led to higher use of heating which would mask any small savings.

Another factor was the lack of publicity. The event received very little coverage despite backing from campaign groups such as Greenpeace, Christian Aid and the RSPB, and from major energy companies such as EDF, E.On and Scottish Power.

E-Day’s organizer, Dr. Matt Prescott said on his website; “I am afraid that E-Day did not achieve the scale of public awareness or participation needed to have a measurable effect.”

The final figures from the Grid show national electricity consumption for the 24 hour period (from 1800 Wednesday to 1800 Thursday) was 0.1% above the normal business-as-usual projection.

The E-Day concept began as Planet Relief, an awareness-raising BBC TV programme with a significant comedy element. But in September of 2007 the BBC decided to pull the project, saying viewers preferred factual or documentary programmes about climate change.

Dr. Prescott then decided to see whether he could mount E-Day as an independent operation, and secured the backing of important partners such as the National Grid and the UK’s major energy companies.

The businesses are obliged by the government to offer customer’s ways of improving energy efficiency and some used E-Day to fulfill their commitment and contacted people interested in loft and wall insulation.

e-day.org.uk