Would you like to take a step towards a smarter Britain? The greener energy revolution is happening and it is easier than ever to get involved
It is now widely acknowledged that our reliance on fossil fuels is not sustainable and that we need to make a move towards cleaner and greener energy sources.
The good news is that there’s a really easy way for consumers to help move Britain into an era of renewable energy, without impacting the way they live their lives.
“The more I understood about the need for us all to live with a smaller carbon footprint, the more I started seeking out ways that we could do that. When my energy supplier offered me a smart meter two years ago, at no extra cost, I contacted them right away. We already had solar panels on our house, we recycled as much as possible and had a food waste composter, so it seemed obvious that we should take this step to reduce our waste.
“Now I just need to glance at the in-home display, which I keep in the kitchen, and I can instantly see how much energy we have used that day and know exactly what my bill will be.
“Our drive towards a cleaner and more energy efficient lifestyle also led us to purchase a fully electric car a year ago. We had a charging point installed at home and of course the smart meter became an even more valuable management tool because we were able to identify how much the car was costing to run. We tended to charge it overnight and the smart meter’s in-home display showed us that it was adding £20 a month to our energy bills.
“A lot of people have asked how we manage with an electric vehicle and I’m always happy to tell them how good it is. I do think people are becoming so much more aware of how they can make relatively small lifestyle changes that help to smooth the path towards a greener energy system. Out of the five houses in our street, three of us have electric cars – that’s got to be a good thing.
“When we first got the smart meter everyone in the household started to check the in-home display to see how much energy they were using and that prompted them to make little changes, like taking shorter showers, switching off lights or filling the kettle with less water. We have a one-cup kettle now which boils just enough water for one mug, which saves us money. I also particularly liked being able to see how much different lightbulbs cost and how much energy the cooker was using.
“Those good energy habits have now become second nature for all of us because the in-home display shows us how much energy we’re wasting. I’m excited for the potential of smart meters being able to work with the smart grid so that we really can see the benefits to this much more modern way of using energy – one that is significantly kinder to the planet too.
“I think everyone should have a smart meter. It will almost certainly save you money, while reducing your carbon impact.
As far as we’re concerned there aren’t any downsides.”
Smart Energy GB is the government backed organisation tasked with informing Great Britain about the benefits of the smart meter rollout. Advertisement feature
‘Most people get smart meters to save energy so in the long run it’s got to be good for the environment.’