Energy
Why does it matter?
Most of the energy used to heat, light and power our homes, schools, businesses and other buildings comes from the burning of fossil fuels to produce either heat or electricity. Fossil fuels include gas, oil and coal. They are non-renewable resources because they took millions of years to form through natural processes - and they are being used faster than they are being replenished. A relatively small proportion of electricity and heat is produced from renewable energy and nuclear sources.
The burning of fossil fuels is the major source of man-made CO2 in the UK, one of the main greenhouse gases that cause climate change. By reducing the amount of energy we use we can all play an important part in tackling the causes of climate change - and cut energy bills at the same time.
By reducing our energy use we are also helping to conserve global supplies of fossil fuels and reduce the UK's reliance on expensive imported gas, oil and coal.
The pages on this site show how energy use can be reduced by householders, businesses and schools. They also highlight some of the actions being taken by community groups within Devon to reduce energy use and address climate change.
Free Energy Display Meters for State funded schools
The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and Partnerships for Schools (PfS) are running a scheme to get pupils and teachers excited about their electricity use and actively engaging them in sustainability issues. The displays show real-time energy use on schools' PCs.
Find out more
