With the summer holidays now in full swing, 63% of parents are worried about the rising cost of household bills due to the increased number of people at home with more free time.
However, with 82% of teenagers saying they believe it’s important to be environmentally friendly and waste less energy, this worry may be eased.
New research from Smart Energy GB reveals that over a quarter (26%) of teenagers consider themselves to be more environmentally friendly than their parents and a third (33%) are actively looking to reduce their energy waste in the home this summer.
Turning these intentions into actions, 31% of teenagers say they are now having shorter showers to save energy, while almost a fifth (18%) always use the washing machine at a lower temperature.
And it’s not just their own actions they’re looking to impact, this new generation of ‘greenagers’ are encouraging their parents to think more about their energy habits too.
Many parents admit to being caught out by their kids who have reminded them to turn the lights off when they leave the room (49%), dry clothes on the washing line or clothes horse instead of using the tumble dryer (33%) and unplug devices when fully charged (42%).
Nearly a quarter (24%) of teenagers even encourage their parents to actively keep a watch on their smart meter’s in home display, and 39% nudge them to not leave appliances on for longer than necessary.
Showing this ‘pester power’ is filtering through the family, 26% of parents say it’s thanks to their household’s younger inhabitants that they’re now more aware of the amount of energy they use at home.
This has inspired a fifth (19%), who didn’t have a smart meter previously, to get one installed, enabling them to better monitor their energy usage. Smart meter owners say it has helped them save an average of £140 in the last 12 months.
Smart Energy GB has teamed up with Energy Advice Helpline and actor Will Mellor to help make more households aware of the energy options available to them and how making the switch to a smart meter can help families keep track of their energy usage.
Actor and Dad, Will Mellor said: “Like most families, we find our monthly bills can be quite high and as the kids get older, this isn’t likely to change anytime soon. By working with Smart Energy GB, we wanted to better understand where we could make small changes to our routine to help reduce our energy usage.”
Victoria Bacon, Director at Smart Energy GB said: “Homes can feel a little busier over summer with children returning home from university and schools and colleges closing, which can be a worry for the people paying the bills. But our research shows younger generations are keen to waste less energy and embrace more energy efficient habits in the home.”
Chris Reynolds, Marketing Director, at Energy Advice Helpline, said: “Being more energy efficient has been top of the agenda for many households across the UK in recent years, so much so that the younger generation are influencing their older parents and relatives to make changes to their daily habits to save energy, and reduce their household bills.”
For further information search ‘Get a smart meter’ or visit https://www.smartenergygb.org/
