#LockdownClimateChange: New routines could flatten the curve of energy use
27 April 2020
Professor Jacopo Torriti, School of Built Environment, University of Reading, and Co-Director of the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions, said:
“The focus on lockdown has been to flatten the curve of coronavirus cases. With millions more people working and studying at home, we have also smoothed the daily curve of energy use, reducing the traditional morning and evening peaks in demand.
"The Government’s lockdown announcement (on 23 March) caused an immediate 5-10% reduction in electrical demand.
“To achieve net zero carbon emissions as fast as possible, we need both greener energy supply and more flexible energy demand. Lockdown has shown us that changing energy use is possible.
"Research at the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions is investigating the extent to which some of the changes brought by the lockdown may remain once we return to normality. For instance, after Covid-19 we may work from home more and have more appliances in the home.”
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