Cornish residents take top spot in green energy rankings across England

 

LONDON, UK. 30th November, 2023 – New analysis reveals that households in Cornwall are, on average, more likely to be green energy champions than anywhere else in England.

 

Data analysis by iChoosr, an organisation accelerating the transition to renewable energy, reveals the county has a higher proportion of households that either generate their own electricity or own an electric car than any other area across the country.

 

The research analysed data showing households that use renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and heat pumps, to power their homes, along with those who have made the switch to electric vehicles. The rankings highlight both the top performing counties and cities.

 

The findings show one in seven households in Cornwall have installed renewable energy sources, while one in six either have a renewable energy source in their home or own an electric car. Beyond Cornwall, three landlocked counties: Rutland, Herefordshire, and Cambridgeshire, are also among the top 5 regions in the rankings, with more than 11% of their residents using renewable energy sources at home.

 

According to the analysis, the counties with the highest proportion of green energy champions are:

 

1. Cornwall

2. Rutland

3. Herefordshire

4. Cambridgeshire

5. Somerset

 

iChoosr partners with local authorities to deliver the highly successful Solar Together programme across the UK. To date, Solar Together has delivered more than 27,500 solar panel installations, which are expected to remove 560,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years.

 

In Cambridgeshire alone, Solar Together is responsible for an impressive 23% of all MCS* solar panel installations carried out in the area – these are expected to reduce more than 48,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the next 25 years, significantly contributing to the county’s transition to green energy.

 

Cambridge-based Solar Together customer, Anil Chhabra, says of his recently installed solar panels: “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.”

 

The study also reveals that residents of Winchester, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak went to school, are the greenest in England when it comes to city dwellers. More than 17% of households in the city have an electric car or have installed renewable energy solutions in their own home.

 

The rankings show a clear North-South divide, with no cities in the North or Midlands to make it into the top five in the country. The largest cities, London and Birmingham – whilst having high actual numbers – have relatively low percentages of households that have switched to renewable energy sources.

 

The research reveals the cities with the highest proportion of green energy champions are:

 

1. Winchester

2. Peterborough

3. Chichester

4. Colchester

5. Cambridge

 

George Frost, UK Country Manager at iChoosr, says: “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.”