A recent article in the FT included a neat graph from National Grid, showing the relationship between temperatures and demand for electricity.  At low temperatures, we consume more electricity in heating, while at high temperatures we consume more for air-conditioning.  The minimum consumption seems to be between 18-19 degrees C. (Unfortunately, the graphs are not [...]

Here’s a round-up of some recent opinion-pieces on carbon emissions, green taxes and related topics:

Tim Harford in the FT puts an economist’s view of green taxes: 

“If we really cared about the planet we would recognise that CO2 is CO2. It does not matter where it comes from: it is all harmful.
This is where economists seem to part [...]

The Energy Saving Trust has just released a report, The Rise of the Machines (4.83MB PDF), showing that between 1972 and 2002, electricity consumed by household domestic appliances doubled, and is anticipated to rise by a further 12% by 2010.
Electricity used by consumer electronics, currently totalling 16% of domestic electricity consumption, is predicted to double [...]

TVs alone create 480′000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from wasted power per year, with VCRs producing double that.
Stereos, Consoles, DVD players and Set-top boxes, contribute more than 2 million further tonnes, bringing the total to 3.59m tonnes. That’s enough for a staggering 1.4 million long-haul flights.

The BBC have reported that Britons [are] ‘accepting nuclear power’ following a poll of 1500 people.
The catch is that nuclear power is only acceptable if it can be shown to help fight climate change compared to currently used technology.
And with a small majority of just 54%, it should not be thought that nuclear power is [...]