Britain’s dads turn off more than one billion lights in empty rooms every year as they do their bit to save energy around the home[1]
Ahead of Father’s Day, Uswitch analysis reveals that dads also close windows and doors left open more than one billion times a year[2]
The average dad turns off a TV in a room where no one is watching 327 times a year[3], and closes a fridge that someone else has opened 51 times annually[4]
Only half of children (46%) help their dad save energy around the house[5], with three in ten households (31%) arguing once a week about the habit[6]
Uswitch.com offers advice on how to help dad out this Father’s Day and save energy by turning off devices when they’re not in use.
Britain’s dads deserve recognition for their efforts to save energy around the home – by switching off almost one billion lights in empty rooms every year[1], according to research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
The average dad turns off 159 lights in empty rooms a year[1], potentially saving more than £7 a year in electricity[7]. Every year, fathers also close 103 doors and windows that have been left open around the home[2], which could be adding £80 to the average home’s annual heating bills[8].
Nearly once a day, fathers enter a room and find the TV playing when no one is watching. The average dad turns off an unwatched TV 327 times a year – adding up to more than three billion times a year for all of Britain’s fathers[3].
| Extra work for dad | Times per year on average | Times per year for all UK dads |
|---|---|---|
| Turn off the TV in a room where no one’s watching | 327 | 3,266,500,000 |
| Turning off lights in empty rooms | 159 | 1,588,600,000 |
| Turn down the temperature of the thermostat | 73 | 733,200,000 |
| Close a door to the outside that someone else has left open | 55 | 554,600,000 |
| Close a fridge that someone else has opened | 51 | 512,300,000 |
| Close windows left open by someone when the heating is on | 48 | 479,400,000 |
| Turn the heating off because someone's not wearing a jumper | 39 | 394,800,000 |
Source: Uswitch.com
Other energy wastage problems solved by dads include shutting the fridge door when it’s been left open by someone else (51 times a year)[4], turning down the temperature of the thermostat (73 times), and turning the heating off because a member of the family isn’t wearing a jumper (39 times).
One in three households (31%) argue at least once a week about lights left on in empty rooms, and a quarter (24%) row about blaring televisions.
Many kids already help their dads to save energy around the house, with almost half of households with children (46%) saying that everyone in the family plays a part.
Ahead of Father’s Day, Uswitch.com is offering advice on how to help dad around the home, and save energy by turning off lights and TVs when they’re not being used.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Britain’s dads do a great job of keeping an eye on the energy bill, and who doesn’t remember as a child being told to ‘put on a jumper if you’re cold’?
“Getting into good energy habits as a household can save a lot of money, and it’s important to remember that everyone in the home can play their part.
“Simple changes such as turning off lights or TVs when not in use, unplugging devices from standby where possible or shutting windows and doors – especially during colder months – can all make a difference.
“Anyone making changes to how they use energy around the home can track their usage using apps, such as Utrack by Uswitch, to see what impact this is having on their bills.”
Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch.
Notes
Research conducted online by Opinium, 13 January 2023 to 17 January 2023, among 2,000 UK adults, weighted to be nationally representative.
1. Respondents were asked ‘How many times a week do you do each of the following?’ Parents said they turned off lights in empty rooms 333 times a year. Respondents were asked ‘Who do you currently live with?’ 714 respondents lived with children. 714 / 2000 = 35.7%. 35.7% of 28.2 million UK households = 10 million UK households with children living at home. 333 x 10 million households = 3.35 billion lights in empty rooms turned off across the UK every year. Dads turn off 47% of lights, so 1.57 billion lights are turned off by dads each year.
2. Parents said they closed open doors 118 times a year and open windows 102 times a year. 118 + 102 = 220. 47% of 220 = 103. 103 x 10 million households = 1.034 billion.
3. Parents said they turned off TVs in an empty room 695 times a year. 47% of 695 = 327. 327 x 10 million households = 3.27 billion.
4. Respondents were asked how often they argue at least once a week about the following issues. 31% said ‘Leaving lights on in empty rooms’. 24% said ‘Leaving the TV on with no one watching’
5. Respondents were asked ‘Which, if any, of the following statements do you agree with?’ 46% of households with at least one child at home said ‘Everyone in the household plays a part in saving energy’.
5. Respondents were asked ‘How often, if at all, does your household argue about each of the following?’ See table for results.
7. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that lights make up 11% of a household’s electricity bill. Medium-use household electricity according to Ofgem is 2,700kWh a year. 11% of 2,700kWh is 297kWh, which costs £72.77 at current price cap rates. If leaving lights on adds 10% to your lighting bill, this is an extra cost of £7.28.
8. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that draughts can cost the average UK household £80 a year.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.
