Mister Green

AGE POLLUTION - older people are LESS green

A report “Demographic Change and the Environment” by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution says that the 50-64 age group consumes more energy, travels more has more electrical goods, bigger cars and eats more imported foods. Older people stay at home more and use more energy and many better-off people can afford to turn up the heating.
No surprises there!
But the problem is that these high levels of consumption could carry through as these people move into the 65-74 age group when many people still have significant disposable income.
Most people live in older houses where they are locked into high levels of energy consumption. Retirement is an opportunity to downsize and refurbish to create an energy efficient home that is better suited to the needs of later life. Money spent now will mean lower outgoings later.
Unless the 50-64 age group tackles this, there will be a time lag in improving energy efficiency as the 65-74 age group continues to consume inefficiently.
The RCEP report identifies that demography has an important part to play. Green policies should be aimed at and tailored to different generations

Most energy saving technologies require significant investment and have a long payback period. Retirement is an opportunity to downsize and unlock capital in the family home to pay the premium to move to an energy efficient home and benefit. Retirement is the time to go for solar panels and passive house technologies to increase comfort and reduce outgoings as energy costs rise and income falls. Energy efficiency is a much a matter of security in old age as providing for a decent pension.