Warm 2009 pushed down energy consumption
In 2009, Switzerland’s overall energy consumption fell by 2.5 per cent, compared with 2008.
A news release by the Federal Energy Office on Tuesday showed the reasons for this fall in consumption were the warmer weather and weaker economy.
The economic downturn meant that gross domestic production declined by 1.5 per cent over 2008.
Because of these two factors, the 1.1 per cent growth in the population mean and the 0.5 per cent increase in the number of motor vehicles did not, as might have been expected, increase overall consumption.
Whereas less heating oil, petrol and electricity were consumed, there was an increase in renewable forms of energy in 2009
The consumption of solar heating grew significantly (+13.2 per cent), but also the use of ambient heat (+ 8.6 per cent).
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