Bristol energy usage by neighbourhood

On the 23rd of December the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released its latest series of data regarding energy consumption by local authorities.

The figures for metered Electricity and Gas energy usage within Bristol are also available for Lower-level Super output Areas (LSOAs) as part of a pilot project for half a dozen local authorities – essentially this breaks the local authority information down into smaller “neighbourhood” areas. For Bristol there are 252 of these LSOAs with average populations of 1,500 each. The DECC data allows us to break down the domestic energy consumption for Gas and Electricity as an average per household within each of these local areas (the figures for households estimates for the LSOAs are from the 2001 census figures).

No. 1 on the Bristol list is University Halls which is a bit of an anomaly because of the classification of the University Halls of Residence as single households. As a result the average household size for University Halls is 5.99 compared to the Bristol average of 2.35 (apart from University Halls, the next highest average household size for any ward is 2.78 for Fonthill in Southmead ward at 100 on the list). Stoke Bishop North at No.2 on the other hand has an average household size of 2.25 and thus is a good contender for Bristol's top energy guzzling neighbourhood, with a per household consumption over 40% higher than the average Bristol household, and nearly 3 times that of the average household in Redcliffe, the local area with the lowest energy usage per household.

Looking through the list below, as might be expected the top end of the list is dominated by neighbourhoods in Stoke Bishop, Henleaze, and Westbury-on-Trym wards which have 8 of the top ten energy using neighbourhoods, however there are nevertheless some thought provoking disparities further down the list.

It might be tempting to assume that the jump in household energy usage that the brief walk across Bristol or Redcliffe bridge entails (Redcliffe 9,588.80 KWh, City Centre & Queen Square 26,183.19 KWh) could be explained by the fact that since 2001, the population of the later area has increased by nearly 20% - until you realise that Redcliffe has increased by 45% over the same period. The answer must lie elsewhere than population change.

For myself, having spent 16 of the first 18 years of my life living in Fulford Road North in Hartcliffe, I find it difficult to work out why it's energy consumption is more than 50% higher per household than Fulford Road South where I lived the other 2 years - perhaps Paul Smith, a child of Fulford Road South, has a possible explanation?

You might wish to compare this post with an earlier post I did about carbon emissions by postcode in which I speculated that the level of carbon emissions had much more to do with people's level of personal wealth rather than any ideological commitment to a low carbon lifestyle. It seems that many people have relatively low carbon lifestyles forced upon them by relative poverty rather than by choice. As many of those areas in the list below that have the lowest energy usage (and, thus presumably, the lowest carbon emissions) are areas targeted for regeneration (and, hopefully, improved levels of personal wealth), then there is an onus on those of us who recognise the need for a reduction in future energy use and carbon emissions to tackle the immensely difficult task of ensuring that a low carbon lifestyle is one that people make as a choice, rather than because they had no alternative. A task that if failed has implications far beyond the borders of Bristol.

Here is the full list (if you don't know which LSOA neighbourhood you live in, the best way to find out is to use the City Council's ward finder, where, after selecting your home ward, you can download the Ward Super Output Area Map);

rank/ LSOA, Ward / kWh per household

1 University Halls, Stoke Bishop = 31,649.62
2 Stoke Bishop North, Stoke Bishop = 28,696.46
3 Sheridan Road, Horfield = 28,387.22
4 North View, Henleaze = 27,712.72
5 Henleaze North, Henleaze = 27,436.13
6 Sneyd Park & the Downs, Stoke Bishop = 27,038.87
7 Canford Lane, Westbury-on-Trym = 26,913.65
8 Cranbrook Road, Redland = 26,754.74
9 Rockleaze, Stoke Bishop = 26,754.48
10 Canford Park, Westbury-on-Trym = 26,712.02
11 Hazelbury, Stockwood = 26,574.36
12 City Centre & Harbourside, Cabot = 26,545.46
13 Stapleton Road, Lawrence Hill = 26,249.87
14 West Broadway, Henleaze = 26,229.73
15 City Centre & Queen Square, Cabot = 26,183.19
16 Upper Montpelier, Ashley = 26,168.22
17 Golden Hill, Henleaze = 25,822.47
18 Clifton Down, Clifton = 25,734.36
19 Henleaze West, Henleaze = 25,720.29
20 Robertson Rd, Easton = 25,592.11
21 Stoke Bishop South, Stoke Bishop = 25,216.05
22 St Pauls, Ashley = 25,138.23
23 Elmlea, Westbury-on-Trym = 25,129.85
24 Lower Redland Rd, Cotham = 24,884.09
25 Chester Park, Hillfields = 24,873.23
26 Cromwell Road, Ashley = 24,842.32
27 Cricket Ground, Bishopston = 24,632.99
28 Westbury Park North, Henleaze = 24,267.84
29 Ashley Hill, Ashley = 24,200.08
30 St Mark's Rd, Easton = 24,167.42
31 Henleaze South, Henleaze = 24,153.58
32 Wessex Avenue, Horfield = 24,078.80
33 Westbury Village, Westbury-on-Trym = 23,955.94
34 Upper Knowle, Knowle = 23,948.88
35 Redcatch, Knowle = 23,861.29
36 Westbury Park South, Redland = 23,849.59
37 University, Cabot = 23,827.56
38 West St, Bedminster = 23,623.29
39 Southmead East, Southmead = 23,587.42
40 Fishponds Rd, Eastville = 23,343.95
41 St Agnes, Ashley = 23,337.86
42 Talbot Hill, Knowle = 23,292.17
43 Somerville Rd, Bishopston = 23,192.63
44 Eastgate, Lockleaze = 23,173.27
45 Radnor Road, Bishopston = 23,082.77
46 Callington Road, Brislington West = 23,082.26
47 Old Sneed Park, Stoke Bishop = 22,696.95
48 Fishponds, Frome Vale = 22,614.72
49 Brentry East, Henbury = 22,558.80
50 Hengrove East, Hengrove = 22,551.31
51 Two Mile Hill East, St George East = 22,548.98
52 Alma Road, Clifton East = 22,495.90
53 Hillfields West, Hillfields = 22,442.11
54 St Bonaventures, Bishopston = 22,406.72
55 Berkeley Road South, Redland = 22,176.32
56 St Judes, Lawrence Hill = 22,101.65
57 Cotham Park, Cotham = 22,092.29
58 Zetland Road, Redland = 22,087.13
59 Hengrove Lane, Hengrove = 22,016.37
60 Easton Road, Lawrence Hill = 22,013.69
61 Manor Park, Redland = 21,942.21
62 Bridgwater Rd, Bishopsworth = 21,890.71
63 Coombe Dingle East, Kingsweston = 21,839.56
64 Eldonwall, Brislington West = 21,802.26
65 Ashley Down, Bishopston = 21,758.29
66 Avonmouth Docks, Avonmouth = 21,754.73
67 Wellington Hill, Horfield = 21,739.58
68 Seymour Rd, Bishopston = 21,543.36
69 Court Farm Road, Whitchurch Park = 21,471.04
70 Redland Court Road, Redland = 21,412.88
71 Clifton College, Clifton = 21,308.50
72 Whitchurch Road, Hartcliffe = 21,297.36
73 Downend West, Frome Vale = 21,286.99
74 Red Lion Hill, Knowle = 21,247.85
75 Wedmore Vale, Filwood = 21,189.52
76 Parson St, Bedminster = 21,184.15
77 Kensington Park, Brislington West = 21,141.23
78 Whitchurch, Whitchurch Park = 21,136.72
79 Monks Park, Horfield = 21,121.69
80 Winterstoke Rd, Bedminster = 21,115.13
81 Victoria Park, Windmill Hill = 21,037.44
82 Henbury Hill, Westbury-on-Trym = 21,033.96
83 Manor Farm, Horfield = 21,017.75
84 Birchwood Rd, Brislington East = 20,940.16
85 Brentry West, Henbury = 20,906.81
86 Bryants Hill, St George East = 20,901.41
87 Mayfield Park, Hillfields = 20,874.75
88 Bishop Road, Bishopston = 20,855.25
89 Whitehall, Easton = 20,811.38
90 Bedminster, Southville = 20,793.23
91 Blackberry Hill, Frome Vale = 20,782.83
92 Chelsea Park, Easton = 20,769.46
93 Worral Road, Clifton East = 20,744.21
94 Broadwalk, Knowle = 20,706.94
95 Hamilton Road, Southville = 20,635.52
96 Windmill Hill West, Windmill Hill = 20,630.36
97 Woodleigh Gardens, Stockwood = 20,577.17
98 Bath Road, Brislington West = 20,575.01
99 Blaise Hamlet, Henbury = 20,540.46
100 Fonthill, Southmead = 20,523.86
101 Old Market & The Dings, Lawrence Hill = 20,499.46
102 Memorial Stadium, Bishopston = 20,492.28
103 Keys Avenue, Horfield = 20,454.41
104 Kings Head Park, Bishopsworth = 20,425.01
105 Coronation Rd East, Southville = 20,407.53
106 Clifton Village, Clifton = 20,400.44
107 Nags Head Hill, St George East = 20,343.15
108 Novers, Filwood = 20,334.35
109 Westbury North, Westbury-on-Trym = 20,259.97
110 Stackpool Road, Southville = 20,256.56
111 Woodwell Road, Avonmouth = 20,241.71
112 Ashton, Southville = 20,228.48
113 St Johns Lane, Windmill Hill = 20,203.00
114 Hillfields North, Hillfields = 20,199.63
115 Sea Mills North, Kingsweston = 20,188.25
116 Two Mile Hill West, St George East = 20,185.25
117 Ilchester Crescent, Bishopsworth = 20,139.76
118 Knowle Park, Knowle = 20,132.72
119 Conham Valley, St George East = 20,093.96
Bristol average = 19,998.29
120 West St George, St George West = 19,992.66
121 Stockwood Lane South, Stockwood = 19,984.81
122 Burchells Green, St George East = 19,981.47
123 Fulford Road North, Hartcliffe = 19,948.43
124 Hotwells East, Clifton = 19,910.71
125 Whatley Road, Clifton East = 19,850.52
126 Stockwood Lane North, Stockwood = 19,762.78
127 Lower Montpelier, Ashley = 19,737.27
128 Avonmouth Village, Avonmouth = 19,734.41
129 Stapleton, Eastville = 19,713.19
130 Wells Road, Windmill Hill = 19,710.86
131 Netham, Easton = 19,677.58
132 Lodge Hill, Hillfields = 19,667.07
133 Southmead West, Southmead = 19,653.15
134 Kingsway, St George East = 19,517.58
135 Blaise Castle, Henbury = 19,475.65
136 Sandy Park Rd, Brislington West = 19,456.34
137 Imperial Park, Hartcliffe = 19,428.28
138 Bedminster Rd, Bedminster = 19,426.20
139 Manworthy Rd, Brislington East = 19,414.84
140 Leinster Avenue, Filwood = 19,400.96
141 Greenbank, Eastville = 19,391.59
142 Coombe Dingle West, Kingsweston = 19,358.97
143 Broomhill Rd, Brislington East = 19,316.46
144 Glyn Vale, Filwood = 19,250.24
145 Hotwells, Clifton = 19,246.45
146 Staple Hill Rd North, Frome Vale = 19,238.32
147 Tanorth Road, Whitchurch Park = 19,232.61
148 Highridge Common, Bishopsworth = 19,170.72
149 Southmead North, Southmead = 19,140.54
150 East St George, St George West = 19,139.13
151 Kensington Rd, Cotham = 19,087.50
152 Eastville Park, Eastville = 19,084.25
153 Kingsweston Avenue, Avonmouth = 19,070.02
154 Windmill Hill East, Windmill Hill = 19,001.10
155 Fortfield West, Hengrove = 18,972.36
156 Barrow Hill, Avonmouth = 18,945.71
157 Upper Eastville, Eastville = 18,944.90
158 Filton Ave South, Lockleaze = 18,924.63
159 Redland Grove, Cotham = 18,890.37
160 Ashton Vale, Bedminster = 18,887.83
161 Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth = 18,878.70
162 Throgmorton Rd, Filwood = 18,793.19
163 Rose Green, Eastville = 18,788.15
164 Plummers Hill, St George West = 18,710.49
165 Clyde Road, Cotham = 18,689.61
166 Headley Park, Hartcliffe = 18,670.74
167 Charlton Mead, Southmead = 18,650.12
168 Lawrence Weston West, Avonmouth = 18,626.98
169 Whiteway, St George West = 18,623.18
170 Kingsdown Parade, Cabot = 18,596.21
171 Highridge, Bishopsworth = 18,538.62
172 Mina Road, Ashley = 18,530.80
173 Gilbert Road, Easton = 18,529.64
174 Shirehampton Portway, Avonmouth = 18,511.95
175 Filwood Broadway, Filwood = 18,485.12
176 St Andrews Park, Redland = 18,445.45
177 Hillfields East, Hillfields = 18,410.99
178 Hengrove Park, Hengrove = 18,383.24
179 Whitefield Fishponds, Eastville = 18,318.17
180 Uppr Totterdown, Windmill Hill = 18,307.12
181 Trymside, Southmead = 18,249.41
182 Horfield Sports Ground, Lockleaze = 18,221.37
183 Muller Road, Lockleaze = 18,198.79
184 Filton Road, Horfield = 18,195.78
185 Oldbury Court, Frome Vale = 18,193.06
186 Two Acres, Hengrove = 18,174.45
187 Woodland Rd, Cabot = 18,170.66
188 Speedwell, Hillfields = 18,152.71
189 Cotham Brow, Cotham = 18,139.49
190 Lawrence Weston East, Kingsweston = 18,134.15
191 Newbridge Rd, Brislington East = 18,121.59
192 Clifton Central, Clifton = 17,997.51
193 Marksbury Road, Windmill Hill = 17,944.33
194 Ilminster Ave East, Knowle = 17,935.89
195 Lockleaze South, Lockleaze = 17,860.27
196 Allison Road, Brislington East = 17,852.54
197 Redfield, St George West = 17,847.94
198 Lockleaze North, Lockleaze = 17,795.61
199 Whitchurch Lane, Hartcliffe = 17,726.78
200 Fair Furlong, Hartcliffe = 17,709.95
201 Inns Court, Filwood = 17,670.52
202 Fortfield East, Hengrove = 17,656.06
203 Sherrin Way, Bishopsworth = 17,636.03
204 St Georges Park, St George West = 17,614.00
205 Crews Hole, St George East = 17,530.08
206 Broomhill, Frome Vale = 17,486.36
207 Sandholme Rd, Brislington West = 17,450.67
208 Luckwell Rd, Bedminster = 17,431.49
209 Bishport Ave East, Whitchurch Park = 17,430.68
210 Queens Road, Clifton East = 17,409.47
211 Chessel St, Bedminster = 17,399.42
212 Horfield Common, Horfield = 17,360.01
213 Henbury, Henbury = 17,328.59
214 The Coots, Stockwood = 17,245.72
215 Staple Hill Rd South, Hillfields = 17,217.15
216 Hareclive, Whitchurch Park = 17,142.40
217 Church Road, Easton = 17,099.01
218 School Rd, Brislington East = 17,049.62
219 Lake Road, Westbury-on-Trym = 17,014.86
220 Bishport Ave West, Hartcliffe = 16,947.82
221 Hengrove West, Hengrove = 16,896.48
222 Sea Mills South, Kingsweston = 16,706.05
223 Ilminster Ave West, Filwood = 16,678.47
224 Filton Ave North, Lockleaze = 16,538.43
225 Southmead Central, Southmead = 16,420.01
226 St Annes Park, Brislington East = 16,362.16
227 Whitchurch Park, Whitchurch Park = 16,146.17
228 Burnbush Hill, Stockwood = 16,066.96
229 Lawrence Weston South, Kingsweston = 16,066.26
230 Cliftonwood, Clifton = 16,064.06
231 Hicks Gate, Brislington West = 15,744.87
232 Withywood, Hartcliffe = 15,721.88
233 Wharnecliffe Gdns, Hengrove = 15,714.86
234 Four Acres, Bishopsworth = 15,571.09
235 Gill Avenue, Frome Vale = 15,445.20
236 Oakfield Grove, Clifton East = 15,381.38
237 Bower Ashton, Southville = 15,293.45
238 Cotham Hill, Cotham = 15,063.97
239 Lawrence Weston Parade, Kingsweston = 15,059.93
240 Clouds Hill, St George West = 15,028.58
241 Coronation Rd West, Southville = 14,903.25
242 Burnbush, Stockwood = 14,761.77
243 Crow Lane, Henbury = 14,574.80
244 Lwr Totterdown, Windmill Hill = 14,526.09
245 Wootton Road, Brislington East = 14,417.88
246 Lower Clifton Hill, Clifton East = 14,341.00
247 Shirehampton Centre, Avonmouth = 13,931.84
248 Barton Hill Road, Lawrence Hill = 13,773.57
249 St James Barton, Cabot = 13,070.97
250 Fulford Road South, Whitchurch Park = 12,841.55
251 St Philips, Lawrence Hill = 9,689.41
252 Redcliffe, Lawrence Hill = 9,588.80


The consumption figures for electricity and gas are based on domestic meter readings over the course of 2007.