People with smart meters are doing more to save energy

Smart meters are having a positive impact on how people use energy around the home, according to a new study from Smart Energy GB.

The research found that as many as 85% of people with smart meters have changed the way they do things around the house to use less energy, such as turning off lights in an empty room, turning down the heating when it is not required, and making an effort not to overfill the kettle.

Nearly two in three (63%) have looked into ways to use less energy, for example finding out about appliances that are more energy-efficient and seeking advice from their energy supplier.

And more than half (56%) have made changes to their home to be more energy-efficient, by fitting new lighting, insulation or windows, getting an energy-efficient boiler or heating system, fitting radiator reflectors or having a smart thermostat installed.

Smart meters enable consumers to see in pounds and pence, and in near real-time, exactly what they are spending on their gas and electricity. This makes it easier to monitor and reduce energy use.

The research shows that people with smart meters have greater insight into how much energy they use — they are more likely than people who don’t have a smart meter to say they understand how much energy they use and how to save energy. What’s more, those who have had their smart meter for longer report greater reductions in energy use, take more steps to save energy, and are more habitual in their day-to-day energy saving actions.

Smart Energy GB chief executive Sacha Deshmukh commented:

“These results show that smart meters are helping millions of households to get their gas and electricity under control. People with smart meters understand what they need to do and are changing their behaviour to save energy.

“With so many consumers using their smart meters to use less energy and bring their bills down, I would urge people to contact their energy supplier about installing their smart meter.”

The survey was carried out for Smart Energy GB by Populus, which questioned 2,557 UK adults about their energy use.

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