This section brings together a selection of facts and figures on a number of environmental topics. Click on the headings below to access statistics on that topic.

• Climate change
• Waste & recycling
• Renewables (big)
• Renewables (small scale)
  
• Other environmental statistics of interest

Small scale renewables

A study commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry from the Energy Saving Trust suggested that by 2050, microgeneration could provide 30-40% of the UK's electricity needs and help to reduce household carbon emissions by 15% per annum
Ref: Department of Trade and Industry: Microgeneration Strategy, 2006

If a wood fuel heating system is used to replace a coal-fired or electric system in a home, then the greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by around 90%.
Ref: Sustainable Development Commission Scotland

A micro-CHP unit will deliver the same comfort levels as a modern boiler,
whilst reducing the emissions of a typical house by 1.5 tonnes (around 25%)
of CO2 per year.
Ref: Micropower council

In our current centralised electricity network, almost 80% of power is
wasted through inefficient generation, transmission and end use. By
switching to a decentralised energy network, which included
micro-generation, Woking Council, in England, reduced its carbon dioxide
emissions by 77%.
Ref: Greenpeace UK

A 2005 NOP opinion poll in Scotland showed that 90% of those questioned
supported the idea of individual households in Scotland generating some or
all of their own power using renewable energy.
Ref: Scottish Renewables Forum

Other statistics of interest

Environment Statistics - Scottish Government
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment

Sources of Environmental Statistics - Glasgow University Library http://www.lib.gla.ac.uk/Depts/MOPS/Stats/environment.shtml