The average household energy consumption in the UK fell by almost a quarter from 2005 to 2011, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In England and Wales the average household energy consumption stood at 19.7MWh in 2011, a 24.7% decrease on the 2005 average of 26.2MWh per year.
The ONS believes that the level of consumption has fallen for a number of reasons including, the introduction of EPC ratings for buildings as well as energy rating scales for appliances, increased loft and cavity wall insulation and the continually improving efficiency of gas and condensing boilers.
However, the increasing public awareness of environmental issues and the rapid price increase of gas and electricity are thought to be the largest contributors to the decline in demand.
The South West was the region with the lowest average consumption per household in 2001, at 16.1MWh. Wales was the second smallest consumer of energy, with an average annual consumption of 16.3MWh. Regions in the North of England also consumed less energy than the national average, with an average of 18.3MWh.
The East Midlands recorded the highest average consumption per household at 27.5MWh, much higher than the rest of the UK. The region included the ten highest energy consuming local authorities, with Rutland topping the list with a mean household energy consumption of 36MWh per year.
According to the ONS, the regions that consumed the highest amount of energy also had the highest Economy 7 electricity consumption as a proportion of total household energy consumption.
Gas continued to be used more in households than electricity, however, the figures show that the level of gas consumption significantly varied regionally. For example, some of the areas with lower than average household energy consumption figures did not receive piped gas at all and relied on other energy forms.
The full statistics can be found on the ONS site here.
