Published: Dec 15, 2011
Last modified: Dec 15, 2011
Home energy use is responsible overall for
25 % of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions
in the European Union (EU), according to
a new analysis from the European Environment
Agency (EEA). The report calculates emissions
based on their 'end use', or the sector
using the energy. Homes in the EU only emit
12 % of energy emissions directly, but this
doubles when related emissions from power
plants and district heating are factored
in.
The report, 'End-user
GHG emissions from energy: Reallocation
of emissions from energy industries to end
users 2005-2009', demonstrates a new method
of analysing the drivers of emissions by
considering end user demand. The analysis
redistributes 'indirect' emissions, mostly
from oil refineries and plants generating
electricity and heat, in order to calculate
the overall emissions linked to each sector.
When the indirect emissions are considered,
greenhouse gas emissions from the residential
sector double (from 12 to 25 %) and the
commercial sector trebles (from 5 to 15
%). Industry jumps from 15 to 26% when indirect
emissions are factored in. Transport causes
relatively small indirect emissions, pushing
transport emissions from 25 to 29 %.
Changes in emissions 2008-2009
Between 2008 and 2009, energy-related emissions
fell by 7 % in the EU. This dramatic fall
has been attributed largely to the effect
of the economic recession, a fact which
is backed up by the new end use analysis.
Between 2008 and 2009, greenhouse gas emissions
reductions in industry accounted for two
thirds of all energy-related emission reductions,
when indirect emissions are included.
After industry, transport was the sector
contributing most to the reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions in 2009, in particular road
transport. Part of this reduction in emissions
on an end-use basis was accounted for by
lower electric rail transport demand in
2009.
Greenhouse gas emissions caused by households
and other services fell between 2008 and
2009. This was despite the colder winter
- there was an increase in the number of
‘heating degree days’ in most European countries
(an indicator of household demand for heating)
compared to 2008. Although there was an
increase in indirect emissions from heat
and electricity used in homes in the EU,
emissions from home heating appliances fell
by a larger amount – leading to an overall
decrease in end-use emissions from homes.
Objective of the report
The objective of this report is to help
improve the understanding of past greenhouse
gas (GHG) emission trends in the energy
sector from the demand or end-user side.
To do this, the report develops a methodology
to redistribute emissions from energy industries
to the final users (by sector) of that energy.
This reallocation is done on the basis of
Eurostat’s energy balances and GHG inventories
for the energy sector as reported to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), for the period 2005–2009.
