The family blame game when it comes to wasting energy
Families are playing a blame game when it comes to their energy bills, according to research from uSwitch.com. While almost a third of people (32%) say that Mum uses the most energy in their household, when it comes to wasting energy the finger is pointed firmly at the children, with over a quarter (28%) saying that they are the biggest culprits.
Aside from cooking, heating and lighting, families use the most energy watching TV (45%) and using laptops or computers (35%). But it is our need for digital distraction that seems to lead to us wasting energy. Three in ten Brits (30%) say that their household wastes energy leaving TVs, computers and gadgets on when not in use. A further quarter (25%) say that they waste the most by having everything on at the same time while 16% say that leaving things on standby is their biggest energy wasting crime.
Despite 63% of people claiming that their whole household is aware of wasting energy, only 11% say that everyone in the household makes enough of an effort not to do it. To compound the problem, almost a third of people (30%) shrug off the energy wasting in their home as the fault of others, claiming that they're aware of it but the rest of their household isn't. This blame game is resulting in a lack of action - more than half of Brits (53%) say they could do more.
The message about wasting energy is getting through though - just 5% say that it doesn't even register in their household. But this doesn't necessarily lead to action. As well as not switching things off, almost six in ten people (58%) do not have any energy efficiency devices in their homes to help them reduce their usage and their bills. Only 14% use standby savers even though 37% of Brits leave their TV on standby most or all of the time. With energy bills going through the roof, energy wasting Brits are missing a trick.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: "In the face of rising energy bills and our ever-growing love affair with electronic gadgets within the home, consumers can no longer afford to waste energy. 2011 is going to be a very difficult year for family finances so it's time to plug the holes and fill the gaps where money is trickling away. Ensuring that energy doesn't go to waste is a very easy saving.
"Energy efficiency can start with simple steps, such as turning things off when they are not in use or using energy monitors or a standby saver. The bigger steps, such as insulating your home or installing a new energy efficient boiler are more costly, but arguably deliver a greater return. Before taking these, it's worth speaking to your energy supplier to see what advice they can give and to find out whether you would qualify for any financial support to help you with the cost.
"As well as cutting down on the amount used, I would also urge households to ensure that they are paying the lowest possible price for their energy. Moving to dual fuel, paying by direct debit and signing up to an online plan will cut around £220 a year off the average bill. Add in a few energy efficiency measures and households could very easily turn the clock back on their energy bills, taking them back to pre-2008 levels."