With energy prices hitting the headlines every day, energy bills have become a top source (43%) of social conversation for Brits, meaning it is changing the nature of traditional British small talk, beating the weather (36%), current affairs (36%) and football (24%).
Falling further down the list of hot topics are travel and traffic (18%) and pop culture (12%).
New research from Smart Energy GB as part of its Super Smart Home Hacks campaign has revealed that despite the energy price guarantee (EPG) freeze this month, energy prices are still front of mind, and British households are more conscious of their consumption than ever. Four in ten (41%) are now using energy more mindfully, more than a third (36%) have turned their thermostat down and 29% have modified their use of household appliances and devices to help bring down their energy bills.
As well as adjusting their habits, Brits are keeping track of their energy use more closely. Nine in ten (89%) find their smart meter’s in-home display useful, with 40% saying they use their smart meter’s in-home display more often to monitor their usage and 60% claiming it makes them feel more in control. It helps more than half (54%) make more informed decisions and 45% say it helps them budget and manage household finances.
Half (50%) of the nation have felt concerned and a further 39% anxious about the changing energy prices over the past six months, leading to at least 92% evaluating their energy consumption habits once again.
Leading up to the latest EPG announcement, 18% of Brits were only using their tumble dryer once a week, and 34% have reduced their oven usage; with 21% using an air fryer instead and 16% batch cooking in their slow cooker.
Those who have recently made changes to their energy habits say they have reduced their bills by an average of £33 per month in the last six months.
However, energy prices are still causing confusion. More than a third (38%) of Brits admit they don’t understand what they can do to combat the ongoing energy crisis. A further one in five (21%) find the amount of information about household energy overwhelming.
Smart Energy GB and Energy Saving Trust have partnered to reveal some energy saving tips and hacks:
● Don’t be tempted to turn the thermostat up to max to try and heat your home quicker – it will take just as long to heat up but will then continue burning gas long after it needs to. Just set your heating to the temperature you want your home to reach, it will reach the desired temperature in the same amount of time and avoid wasting energy.
● When it comes to cooling your house or flat during the long-anticipated warmer weather, Brits should think twice before investing in an air conditioning unit. If a trusty fan is enough to keep you cool, stick with that as it will use a lot less energy – an air conditioning unit can use as much energy in 15 minutes as an electric fan would in eight hours. Whatever cooling equipment you do invest in, make sure it's as energy efficient as possible!
● During the warmer spring days, closing blinds and curtains helps keep the sun out, keeping homes cooler and reducing any energy used to keep the temperature down.
● Microwaves are known for being an energy efficient way of heating food, but research shows that heating food in a saucepan on a gas hob costs almost exactly the same amount. This is because gas is currently cheaper than electricity.
● If you have some outside space, dry your washing outside as the weather gets warmer and dryer, saving energy that would otherwise be used on a tumble dryer or dehumidifier.
● Now that the days are getting longer, households can wait until later in the day to turn their lights on… and remember to turn them off in any unused rooms!
● There are ways to save energy when it comes to water use too. Energy efficient shower heads and tap aerators can help save energy – up to £75 a year if you use both!
Victoria Bacon, Director at Smart Energy GB, said: “Energy prices and energy use are still very much front of mind for many British households, even more so than football or the weather. Lots of people are being more mindful of their energy use, including by using their smart meter display to track how much power they use in near-real time.
“However, many others are still unsure about the most effective ways to save energy in their homes. We want to equip people with trusted information and proof of what works, while empowering them to make simple, smart swaps to the way they cook, clean and heat their homes. That way, we can all find ways to better manage our energy usage and household bills.”
Brian Horne, Technical Knowledge Lead at Energy Saving Trust, said: “Debunking myths around the energy efficiency of technology is one of the ways we can help householders take control of their energy bills, which is why we’re working with Smart Energy GB to develop the Super Smart Home Hacks, arming households with the facts when it comes to energy choices within the home.
“For example, air fryers really are worth the hype – they can be a lot cheaper to run than ovens, especially for smaller meals. What’s more, with the weather finally warming up, households should look to the washing line as opposed to the tumble dryer to air and dry their laundry. We also know that simple hacks like turning the thermostat down by just 1°C or reducing shower time by two minutes can significantly help to reduce energy bills. By providing data-driven guidance like this, we hope to make energy management easier for everyone.”
The study showed that in terms of home energy management, Brits claim being able to see how much energy they are using in near-real time (36%) and simpler energy ratings on household appliances making them easier to understand (35%).
Smart meters are at the heart of energy management. Seven in ten (72%) UK households say they have or plan to get a smart meter and in-home display to better manage their energy usage and household bills.
Head to smartenergygb.org for the full list revealing the energy efficiency of household appliances and the most effective measures to take to manage energy usage. For more information on the Super Smart Home Hacks campaign and to find out more about getting a smart meter installed, search ‘get a smart meter’.
