A new consumer behaviour change campaign is calling on 13 million UK households not to heat their homes any higher than 21 degrees and consider other ways to get cosy instead.
The Wear Warm campaign was launched today after research undertaken by Utilita Energy - the only energy company created to help households use less energy – revealed that almost half of the nation’s homes are heated to 24 degrees centigrade for half the year – the same temperature as Barbados.
Based on 48 per cent of the UK’s homes being heated to three degrees higher than the recommended healthy heat (18 to 21 degrees), an additional 13 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. That's the same pollution generated by around seven million cars each year – 20 per cent of the UK’s cars.
To promote the importance of getting cosy over getting costly this winter, the Wear Warm campaign will be featured nationwide at 657 charity shops. Anyone keen to cut their heating bills can get hold of some gorgeous preloved winter garments – and keep them out of landfill.
The pro-planet campaign was officially launched by two of the nation’s sustainable heroes – former England goalkeeper and environmentalist David James MBE and British fashion designer Wayne Hemmingway MBE, pictured above with Bill Bullen.
The cost of overheating our homes
The average annual saving for homes reducing their thermostat by three degrees is £174. In addition, around half of households say they use additional sources of heat, including:
A third of households who use an additional heat source say they don’t know if it is cheaper than using the central heating system, or not. Another third say they know the additional heat source is more expensive than the central heating, but use it regardless.
Archie Lasseter, global warming expert and sustainability lead at Utilita Energy, comments:
“If every household made a pledge to stay within 18 to 21 degrees, the UK would hit its net zero obligation almost two years ahead of its deadline.
Bill Bullen, Founder and CEO of Utilita Energy – the UK’s only energy supplier created to help households use less energy – comments:
“Energy bosses and MPs have previously been berated for daring to suggest that consumers put a jumper on to stay warm, and on the subject of fuel poverty - it’s not the right message. But there’s no excuse for today’s Government to avoid a simple ‘don’t go above 21 degrees message’, as we have.
“We’re confident that our simple and effective message will have a positive impact on the pockets of bill payers this winter and will help out Mother Earth – let’s make the year 2021 the last year that we heated our homes to higher than 21 degrees.”
Editor Anne Coates adds: Wearing warmer clothes really helps reduce heating costs and I wouldn't be without my Comfy.
Plus the Comfy comes in a child's version too.