Did you enjoy your summer? For those of us residing in a nation where winter drags from October through April, the brief hiatus gifted by the interim months is truly a blessing. These brief periods are made all the more enjoyable with lengthier, brighter daytime hours and, largely, a warmer, drier climate. It’s a well-needed pick-me-up before we enter the frosty season anew. Once your final winter energy bill gets delivered in April, your bank balance is ready for some respite. If fortune favours you, certain expenses are put on hold until November.
The Sweater Challenge
For individuals who had their childhood before the turn of the millennium, they are likely to remember the amusing family challenge “how long can we hold out before we turn the heating back on?”. This was accompanied by the hilarious contest “How many itchy sweaters can you layer on?” More often than not, someone gives in by mid-November, causing the heating and subsequent bills to skyrocket.
Emerging generations are beginning to discover these budgeting games, thanks to the increasingly burdensome energy crisis. Switcher.ie, a price comparison site, reveals that the typical yearly gas expense for a three-bedroom house is €1,482, and the average annual electricity bill amounts to €1,755.
All about the savings?
Returning to summer, famously touted as the season of savings, we’re confronted with a harsh reality. Summer should imply lesser costs, yet many of us seem to be missing out on significant savings. The reason behind this is quite simple.
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) data, comparing summer 2023 to the preceding winter, suggests that inefficient energy habits remain widely consistent throughout both seasons.
Decreased utilisation of heating during the summer months is anticipated, according to the SEAI’s Behavioural Energy and Travel Tracker, an online survey conducted from May to September 2023. Across this frame, a vast majority refrained from heating their household.
Nevertheless, one out of every ten participants continued to use some form of heating every day throughout the summer of 2023. One in five even used heating during July and August. Central heating was the preferred choice, with stoves and fires trailing closely behind.
A decreased likelihood of heating their homes during summer was observed among solitary dwellers and apartment occupants. On the other hand, individuals below the age of 35 were more prone to doing so.
Our understanding of power expenses is often surprising. More than three-fifths of owners of smart meters mistakenly presume off-peak electricity times are less costly for them. About a third of us think cranking up the thermostat will heat a room quicker, which is actually incorrect.
Is our hot water usage too excessive?
Frequent bathing and extended showers lasting longer than ten minutes or drawing a full bath are seen as ineffective ways of using hot water. About 12% of those surveyed reported partaking in such activities daily, regardless of whether it was summer or winter. Women and people under 35 tended to be the biggest offendors of wasting hot water.
Do we save when the wind blows?
Hang drying laundry during the summer is an appealing scene, but even during this time, the tumble dryer is still frequently used, as shown by SEAI data. Over a quarter of those surveyed used their tumble dryer during the summer at least once per day.
Do we tend to walk more during the warmer season?
Despite the presumption that summer could lead to more walking and less driving, we seem to utilise our cars with equal frequency regardless of the season. Last summer, 70% of all journeys were by car, with a fifth of those surveyed opting for a car journey, even for short trips.
Those with a higher income, females, those over the age of 35, those living in rural areas, and families commonly chose to drive for short distances below 2km. Shopping or running errands was the main reason for these short car journeys, with social, leisure, and sports activities becoming more common in the summer months. In contrast, during the winter, such trips were typically for ferrying children to school or activities.
Though the study doesn’t provide direct solutions, it does suggest implementing safer routes for pedestrians and more family-friendly policies might encourage people to walk or cycle more often.
According to the SEAI, while we may believe we are doing our best to save energy, there’s always room for further improvements. Despite the warm June, wet July and stormy August last summer, as reported by Met Éireann, it wasn’t exactly winter.
With summer not over yet, there might be an opportunity for us to make an extra effort to improve our energy use habits. And if all else fails, there’s always next year.