It could be that UK homeowners of the future will find their
electricity supply comes from
alternative resources as opposed to fossil fuels and nuclear power, if one study is to be believed.
According to research presented by the European Renewable Energy Council and Greenpeace, eco-friendly energy could supply 97 per cent of the electricity in the member countries of the European Union by 2050.
The report, entitled Energy [R]evolution - Towards a Fully Renewable Energy Supply in the EU 27, suggested that the continent's habits are characterised by "increasing energy consumption, increasing costs and an increasing dependence on fossil and nuclear fuel imports".
It noted that Europe has become more dependent on fossil fuels at a time when the cost of purchasing the energy resource has tripled.
Furthermore, researchers have argued that the €350 billion (£293 billion) spent on fuel imports, according to 2008 estimates from the European Commission, could have been better allocated towards economic development and creating sustainable jobs.
"The energy debate has moved to the top of the agenda across the social, political and economic spectrum," the document stated.
It is also claimed the continent's energy policy is at a crossroads but is adamant that
green energy offers security as well as allaying fears about scarcity of resources.
While the authors admitted that the cost of electricity would go up in the short to medium term, they claimed that a move to renewables would save trillions of Euros in fuel costs alone.
Perhaps, the kind of venture this document hinted at is highlighted in Glasgow with sustainable properties that could offer those in social housing low-cost living with heating and hot water bills can cost as little as £2 per week.
If successful, the Glasgow Housing Association intends to have more green energy homes built that benefit tenants and the environment, but also help to solve the serious problem of fuel poverty.
