The new energy price cap to shield households and businesses from the worst of the impact of soaring oil and gas prices has come into effect. This means that the annual bill for a typical household across the UK will be frozen at £2,500 for the next two years. However, contrary to common belief, this does not mean households will have to pay more than that in energy bills. In reality, the energy price cap is not a ‘help yourself’ service but is contingent on how much energy is used per unit. Essentially, ‘use more, pay more’. To this end, the nation’s leading sustainability and money-saving platform, SaveMoneyCutCarbon, continue to advise the nation on exactly how they can lower their energy consumption by making subtle but crucial changes to their everyday living.

In their recent survey, the sustainability superstore placed the future-facing intentions of Brits under the microscope, where they found that 66% of the nation agrees that they will introduce eco-behaviours if it means that they save money. The experience of ‘bill shock’ has permeated throughout the nation with unprecedented speed this year. Mark Sait, CEO and founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, argues that it is only once our bill shock threshold has passed that a change in our behaviour is supercharged into action. With this in mind, and 66% looking to save money through green behaviours, what do Britain’s green credentials at home look like?

Key stats:
66% agreed that they would implement more green behaviours if they knew it would save them money
42% agreed that recycling was the only eco-conscious behaviour they currently practice
51% agree that they want to swap all traditional light bulbs in their house for LED by the end of the year in order to reduce their energy bill
48% agree that energy efficiency is the first thing they look for when purchasing a new item for their home
28% agree that the next car they buy will be an electric vehicle
45% agree the next house they buy will be energy efficient
12% agree that they have installed an electric charging point at their home ahead of purchasing an EV
The landmark study found that almost half of the nation’s new buyers (48%) say that energy efficiency will be the first aspect they will look for in a property when purchasing a new home. Alongside adjusting the furnishings that complete the home, 51% of respondents also outlined that they want to swap all traditional light bulbs in their house for LED by the end of the year to reduce their energy bills. Applying not just to inside their homes, but keen to incorporate green living to other aspects of their lives, almost one-in-three (28%) of Brits alleged that their next car will be an electric one, and 12% going the extra mile and installing an electric charging point at their home ahead of purchasing their new vehicle.

How can people save despite the energy price cap?

SaveMoneyCutCarbon has newly launched its industry-first home app, SaveMoneyCutCarbon Home. The Android and iOS solution provides a personalised view of exactly which products in your home are using the most energy, water and single-use plastic, and subsequently suggests swaps for eco-friendly alternatives. Based on the finding that 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions originate from households, the app is the first to identify the worst domestic energy and waste culprits through its “Swap Shop” tool. The service offers an infinite number of sustainable replacements that can reduce your energy bills and other monthly expenses by hundreds. The launch comes amidst the UK’s worst cost-of-living crisis this generation has ever seen, with energy bills now at a record-breaking 40-year high.

Mark Sait, CEO and founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, is an advocate for Brits all over the nation to start making small, but necessary, changes to their lives to help contribute to the wider, global goal. He says:

“We as a nation have now reached a point where we need to take agency and responsibility over how we use our energy. Down to the appliances we have at home, how we commute and even our behaviours at our places of work. The best place to start is to take a step back, observe how we each use energy, and begin implementing small and subtle changes.

“For example, start switching off appliances that aren’t in use from the mains, changing your shower heads to a low-flow model, or the easiest, swapping your incandescent light bulb to an energy-efficient one. This simple, and cost-effective behaviour can reduce your energy consumption by 90%.

We have loads of ways that help inform, educate and advise on the varied but effective ways homeowners and renters can save hundreds on their energy bills, whilst simultaneously lowering their carbon footprint. Be it through our SaveMoneyCutCarbon Home App or our ‘Give Eco A Go’ scheme, we believe that the real way to start observing long-term change for the sake of our planet is through a change in our consumer behaviour.”\