Energy saving at home – how do you measure up?

With energy bills back on the rise and winter approaching, we’ve taken the temperature of the nation, surveying 2,000 adults on how they’re saving energy at home and their outlook on the energy crisis.

In the first of our blog series looking at the survey results, we explore which energy-saving measures are being embraced by Brits, which generation is the wisest with their energy use and where the savviest energy-savers live.

Top energy saving measures

Behaviour changes rank high on the list of energy saving measures. Nearly three quarters (73%) of those surveyed turn off appliances and lights, 64% turn down their heating or don’t use it at all, and 41% turn down or don’t use their hot water. Fewer respondents are making the most of off-peak tariffs – only 14% are choosing to use appliances and EV chargers at night, when electricity can be cheaper – and over half of respondents are yet to insulate their homes (52%).

Many Brits are embracing technology to save energy, with 66% using energy saving lightbulbs, over half (51%) now using a smart meter to track energy use, and 1 in 5 using smart home heating, like Wiser, for better control. 42% have switched from an oven to the home gadget of the moment – the air fryer – to save energy when cooking, and 15% of respondents have made the move to renewables by fitting solar panels.

Some of those surveyed revealed more about the steps they have taken to save energy, including wearing thermal underwear, using the microwave instead of the oven, and even living in one room to reduce heating use.

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Does older mean wiser?

Our survey suggests that the older you are, the more likely you are to make changes to save energy, especially behavioural - but this can be a concern for people’s health and wellbeing. For example, 88% of 65 and overs switch off appliances and lights to save energy, and 76% turn their heating down or don’t use it at all, which can be a health risk in the cold winter months. Those aged 65+ have widely adopted energy saving lightbulbs and are the biggest users by age group at 84%.

Older millennials are using a broad range of energy-saving tech, with 50% of 35–44-year-olds using air fryers (vs 42% on average), 32% adopting smart heating (vs 20% on average) and 28% using solar panels (vs 15% on average).

Gen Z and younger millennials are less energy savvy – potentially linked to their lack of responsibility for energy bills at this life stage. Under 50% of 18–34-year-olds turn off appliances or turn down their heating to save energy, and 9% of 25–34-year-olds don’t use any energy saving measures at all at home, compared to just 3% overall.

Is there a gender gap?

It may come as a surprise to some that more women (68%) than men (59%) turn the heating down or off to save money, while men are bigger users of some energy-saving tech than women, with 23% using smart heating and 19% using solar, compared to 16% and 11% of women respectively.

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Where are Britain’s savviest energy savers?

The Welsh proved wisest with their energy use, using 10 of the 11 mentioned energy-saving measures more than the average - 83% turn off appliances and lights, 76% turn their heating down or off, and 70% use energy saving lightbulbs. This was closely followed by those living in the northwest, who stated above average use of 8 measures.

In contrast, Scots were bottom of the league, with below average use of 8 energy saving measures, swiftly followed by Londoners, who used 7 of the mentioned energy-saving measures less than the average.

Those living in England’s capital were missing out on some of the simplest energy-saving wins by the most startling amounts. Only 59% were switching off appliances and lights (compared to 73% on average) and just over half (55%) were using energy-saving lightbulbs, compared to 66% of all respondents. Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) are using no energy saving measures at home at all and just a third (34%) have insulation in their homes (compared to a little under half on average).

However, Londoners topped the table when it comes to using smart heating, like Wiser. Over a third (34% - versus 20% overall) are using this technology to manage their heating more effectively. Solar panels are popular too, with 1 in 4 fitting the renewable technology in their homes. Londoners are also wise when it comes to making the most of off-peak energy tariffs, with over a quarter (26% - compared to 14% on average) using appliances and EV chargers at night.

Those living in the northwest have embraced the energy-saving benefits of insulation, with 57% reporting having this in their homes versus 48% overall, while people from the southwest are high users of energy-saving lightbulbs at 75%, compared to 66% of all respondents.

Smart meter usage in Northern Ireland is markedly low at just 1 in 5, compared to over half overall, but solar panels are being well adopted at double the average rate here (32% vs 15%) and in Wales too (31%). Air fryer usage follows a similar pattern in both nations, with 55% of those in Northern Ireland and 54% in Wales switching away from a conventional oven to save energy.

Scots are less likely to use appliances at night to save energy (7% vs an average of 14%), while those living in Wales are much more switched on to its energy saving potential, with 24% being wise with when they consume electricity.

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Be Wiser with your heating

As our survey has revealed, smart heating is now a popular route to saving energy and saving money off your energy bills. You can join the 20% of people already reaping the benefits, including improved comfort and convenience too, by installing a Wiser heating system in your home this winter.