Though it's not the empire it once was, the UK remains one of the most prosperous countries in the world. As an industrialised, highly-developed nation, the UK inevitably requires energy- usually in the form of natural gas and electricity- to thrive. However, many Britons don't realise just how much natural gas is used by the relatively small island nation, particularly when compared to other developed countries. According to 2010 estimates from the World Factbook, the UK ranks in 8th place among the world's largest natural gas consumers. Unsurprisingly, the United States, known for its massive energy-consumption, ranks first. Also ranking higher than the UK in regard to gas consumption are Russia, China, Japan, Germany and Iran. Some countries that rank below the UK include: France (16th), the Netherlands (15th), Canada (11th) and Italy (10th). At an industry level, businesses in the UK rely on natural gas to run their factories and heat their office buildings. Natural gas is also important on a domestic level, with millions of Britons relying on the resource for hot water and to heat their homes during the cold British winters. However, in recent years, as the message of Global Climate Change has spread to a more mainstream audience, an increasing number of businesses and individuals are trying to reduce their dependence on natural gas, as well as other energy sources like petrol and electricity. In response to the environmental movement, the UK government has invested in finding alternative energy sources. Though href="http://www.npower.com/Home/index.htm" >gas and electricity may be the chief energy sources in Britain for the foreseeable future, solar power technology, wind turbines and- most recently- wave power, are all being explored as possible alternatives to the existing energy sources. The country's goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by the year 2050. In addition to environmental concerns, the push for alternative energy sources is also spawned by the reality that natural gas is a non-renewable resource. Britain gets the majority of its natural gas from the North Sea, and it's been estimated that the North Sea gas field peaked over a decade ago, in 2000. Though it's very difficult to determine 'peak' gas levels, many believe the decline in gas reserves to be yet another reason why alternative fuels are so important. So, though the UK may not be in the top 5 gas consuming countries, it still ranks relatively high when you consider its size. Though research into alternative energy sources is being carried out, businesses and home-owners can make an immediate impact by trying to cut-back on their natural gas usage. Even small measures, such as washing clothes at a lower temperature or turning the heating off for a few hours a day, can make a large impact nationwide. Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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