Data from Ofgem shows that at the end of June over 2.3 million households were behind on their electricity bills and 1.8 million on their gas bills. Both totals rose by a quarter in just three months, and by almost two-thirds since the end of 2020. This comes amidst the announcement from chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, that the cap on energy unit costs would last only six months instead of the planned two years. Now with the critical mass of the nation in a perilous position, there is a need for structured and quick action to save millions of people from facing fuel poverty in the coming months. To that end, SaveMoneyCutCarbon, the nation’s leading sustainability and money-saving platform has highlighted in new national research the appliances in the home that are using the most energy, and subsequently, how Brits can manage their energy ahead of this winter.
Whilst the matter of lowering energy usage is perpetuated by the state of the UK’s housing landscape, which is reportedly ranked among the worst in Europe for energy efficiency – there is a reported 39% of Brits admitting that they are concerned about the rise in energy bills but haven’t changed their behaviour as a result because they don’t know how. As we approach winter and Brits confront the tough decision to either keep their heating on to switch their lights on, SaveMoneyCutCarbon address a few of the most common ways that large amounts of energy is typically wasted in the home.
Key stats:
62% agreed that they did not know that leaving on your appliances accounts for 6% of the average household energy bill
35% of Brits did not know that a fridge-freezer accounts for the largest percentage of a household bill
49% of Brits did not know that swapping their old washing machine for an energy-efficient one could reduce their bill by half the price
79% of Brits did not know that by swapping a regular light bulb for LED, you could make sizeable savings on your electricity bill
64% did not know that by changing shower heads and taps to low-flow eco models, you could reduce your water usage
In their latest survey, the sustainability superstore found a widespread lack of awareness of the worst energy drainers in their homes. For example, a shocking 79% of Brits did not know that by swapping a regular light bulb for an LED one, you could make sizeable savings on your electricity bill, and over 1 in 3 (35%) were not aware that their fridge-freezer accounts for the largest percentage of a household bill.
How can people save despite the energy price cap?
Whilst we wait on new government advice, there are ways for people to access help and advice for free. Providing sustainable and long-term solutions, SaveMoneyCutCarbon has recently launched its industry-first home app, SaveMoneyCutCarbon Home. The Android and iOS solution provides a personalised view of which products in your home use the most energy, water and single-use plastic, and subsequently suggests swaps for eco-friendly alternatives. Based on the finding that 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions originate from households, the app is the first to identify the worst domestic energy and waste culprits through its “Swap Shop” tool. The service offers infinite sustainable replacements that can reduce your energy bills and other monthly expenses by hundreds. The launch comes amidst the UK’s worst cost-of-living crisis this generation has ever seen, with energy bills now at a record-breaking 40-year high.
