Homeowners 'are too disengaged with energy use'

1 June 2012

Posted by John King

Homeowners are not getting involved enough with how they use energy, Carbon Leapfrog consultant Sarah Inge Parker has claimed.

Speaking at Birmingham's recent Sustainabilitylive event, she said many Britons are "completely disengaged", failing to read meters, check prices for things like home heating oil and monitor energy use through smart meters.

"We have to promote that change towards a more active engagement with the energy system," Ms Parker commented, adding that the lack of interest "is of great concern" to the regulators.

She also suggested that there needs to be more confidence in the forthcoming Green Deal if consumers are to be given the tools and targets necessary to change their behavioural patterns.

Simple things may be able to help people with this, including better controls on central heating systems.

Switch maker Sangamo recently said that an average of £3.2 billion - or £122 per house - is being wasted because people either do not have heating programmers, room thermostats or thermostatic radiator valves, or do not know how to use them properly.

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