Research that could do us all the power of good
Dec 2 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal
A UNIQUE university project in the North East hopes to tackle climate change by using cutting-edge science as well as by figuring out what makes people change their habits. AMY HUNT reports on the Durham Energy Institute
ENERGY is an emotive subject. From the North East pits giving up coal to fuel our country’s growth to power stations scarring the landscape, it’s impossible to escape the feelings evoked by fossil fuels.
And renewable energy doesn’t get an easier ride – earlier this week the Duke of Northumberland branded wind turbines “divisive”, saying they are a threat to tourism.
But whatever we think about the methods of producing it, few of us would want to give up the lifestyle this energy affords us, with power at the flick of a switch.
With coal, gas and oil supplies getting harder to reach and the problems of climate change intensifying, experts are having to come up with ways of producing power and lessening the effect which doing so has on the environment.
At Durham University academics are taking a unique approach.
They are working on high-tech solutions to energy problems, but they are also looking at people’s attitudes to energy and how it could be possible to change their behaviour towards saving it.
Led by director Prof Richard Davies, members of the Durham Energy Institute come from scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics and maths, but also from departments looking at society, like anthropology, business and law.
In total 75 experts from 11 different departments are represented.
As well as coming up with solutions to specific problems, like how energy produced by solar panels and wind turbines on people’s houses could connect to the National Grid, they are plotting what our energy future might look like, including oil, gas and coal and renewables like wind, wave and solar and even nuclear.
