Big energy use leads to inflation, insecurity, global warming, environmental degradation, inequality and climate injustice. From the time the grid was first developed, just over a century ago, energy producers have had one aim, which is to sell as much of it as possible. The oil companies may be the worst, but other forms of energy are part of the problem. The consumption of clean energy still leads to waste and carbon emissions. For example, the UK electricity grid "loses" 8.4% of energy in the transmission system, according to the government's own figures - about £2 billion per year.

Those who say "Just Stop Oil" may be correct, but do they ever reflect they are doing the nuclear industry's job for them? Right now, electricty company executives are anticipating the bonuses that will ensue from the shift in consumption towards clean electricity. Governments in the UK, USA and elswhere are spending our money, in bills and taxes, with the same companies that caused problems of high prices and pollutiin in the first place. The energy we are consuming today dramatically impacts food production for years to come, increases sea levels and negatively affects health and living conditions for future generations. All forms of electricity generation have an environmental impact on our air, water and land. Of the total energy consumed globally, 40% is used to generate electricity, making electricity use the most depleting element of each person’s environmental footprint. Carbon is slowly declining as more clean energy comes on stream, but that is countered globally and in the UK by increases in demand from Data Centres, EVs, Heat Pumps, and the growth of the global middle class.

Electricity from renewable resources (such as solar, geothermal, and wind) contributes less to climate change or local air pollution, since no fuels are combusted. But even renewable resources come with a host of problems, high costs, and intensifying competition for resources, such as copper cable. As many of us become less dependent on the grid, we will no longer need or expect a 24/7 electricity supply.

We have a wasteful system for producing and consuming energy.  By generating electricity more efficiently, and closer to its end users, and being more frugal in consuming it, we can cut the fuel needed to create power, and the amount of greenhouse gases and other air pollution emitted.