Energy Saving Trust Home Truths - the Arnold family

Overview

The Energy Saving Trust's Undercover Reporter Emily Arnold observed her family and monitored their wasteful behaviour.

Emily took part in a unique piece of research to highlight her family’s wasteful habits in the home. At the start and end of the week long task the Arnold family was visited by an Energy Saving Trust
Energy Doctor who carried out a Home Energy Check.

“I learnt that using electricity can cause climate change and I also leant that my family wastes a lot of electricity” Emily Arnold – Undercover Reporter

Wasteful Habits

The Arnold’s were not aware that they could apply for grants to incorporate energy efficient changes in the home.

The home Energy Check showed the Arnolds that having their loft insulated could save them some money.

In her investigations Emily found that her family were guilty of leaving the lights on and not switching appliances off stand by.

Emily said her family could “waste less electricity by: turning off the lights, turning things off instead of leaving them on standby, taking shorter showers and taking the plugs out of the walls”.

The Solutions

The Arnolds are looking into loft insulation as this is a simple measure that could save energy; the family have also committed to turning appliances off and will start turning items off fully.

Being an environmentally savvy family, over 50% of their household lights are energy efficient, they also recycle; they have wall insulation and double glazing and have their heaters on timmers.

They are now ready to take the next steps and become even more energy efficient and save money.