Recent research has shown Cornwall’s households to be the frontrunners in England’s green energy adoption.
iChoosr, a pioneer in promoting renewable energy, conducted an analysis revealing Cornwall’s residents to be more engaged in generating their own electricity or owning electric vehicles than in any other English region.
This study scrutinised data on renewable energy utilisation, encompassing solar panels, wind turbines, and heat pumps for home energy, as well as electric vehicle ownership. The findings not only identified the leading counties but also the cities at the forefront of green energy usage.
Cornwall stands out, with one in seven households embracing renewable energy sources. Additionally, one in six households in Cornwall either have a renewable energy system or an electric vehicle. Following Cornwall, Rutland, Herefordshire, and Cambridgeshire, all landlocked counties, also feature in the top five, with over 11% of homes using renewable energy.
The counties leading in green energy usage are:
- Cornwall
- Rutland
- Herefordshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Somerset
The Solar Together programme, a collaboration between iChoosr and local authorities, has been successful across the UK. So far, it has facilitated the installation of over 27,500 solar panels, anticipated to reduce carbon emissions by 560,000 tonnes in 25 years.
In Cambridgeshire, Solar Together accounts for 23% of all MCS-certified solar panel installations. These installations are projected to decrease CO2 emissions by more than 48,500 tonnes over 25 years, aiding the county’s green energy transition.
Anil Chhabra, a Solar Together customer from Cambridge, expressed satisfaction with his new solar panels, stating, “I’m very pleased with them. And they’re helping me in two ways. One is they offset my energy costs, making my bills cheaper. But also, I feel I’m doing my bit for the environment. I think the latter is becoming more important.”
Winchester, the city where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was schooled, emerged as the leading city in England for green living. Over 17% of its households either own an electric car or have installed renewable energy solutions.
The data also shows a pronounced North-South divide. None of the cities in the North or Midlands ranked in the top five. Major cities like London and Birmingham, despite their size, have a lower proportion of households adopting renewable energy.
The top cities for green energy are:
- Winchester
- Peterborough
- Chichester
- Colchester
- Cambridge
George Frost, UK Country Manager at iChoosr, commented: “Higher household energy bills and growing desires for more sustainable lifestyle options mean rising numbers of UK households are turning to renewable and energy-efficient ways to power their homes. The days of renewable solutions being inaccessible and unaffordable are gone. Through new partnerships and initiatives, there are an increasing number of options that enable households to easily make the switch to renewable energy sources – and all the benefits that they bring.”
