Households see 9% increase in use of lighting and heating as clocks go back.

As the clocks fall back and evenings grow shorter/darker in Ireland, a shift in energy consumption is inevitable. Typically, shorter daylight hours can lead to increased energy consumption as people rely more on artificial lighting and heating. Couple this with Halloween festivities and we’re in for a surge in energy usage.

Pinergy, the energy transition company, has delved into the data highlighting energy trends typical of this time of year.

As the dark winter nights creep in, consumption of energy across the country inevitably increases. Total energy consumption in Ireland last year increased by 2% in the days following the clock change.

Pinergy consumption insights show that the typical household* increased energy consumption by 267.68 kWh following the clock change with the average bill increasing by €70.13 per month per month in the winter months. This increase in energy consumption is equivalent to a household boiling the kettle an additional 89 times a day.

Pinergy data also shows that when the clocks go back household energy consumption peaks during the early evening, 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

 Last year on Halloween night we see a spike in household energy consumption, with usage increasing by 9% compared to the daily average from January to October. This is likely due to increased lighting for decorations and additional power usage for hosting parties.

To support energy users in getting smart this winter, Pinergy has compiled 9 ways to become #EnergySmart this winter:

1. Boil only what you need: When boiling water in a kettle or in a saucepan, make sure you only boil what you need. So, if you’re making a cup of coffee, just boil what you need for the cup – not the full kettle!
2. Only wash with a full load: When you put on your washing – dishes or clothes – make sure to have a full load, otherwise, you’re only wasting energy.
3. Don’t take too many sneaky peaks into the Oven: When you’re baking those scones or cooking a roast, try to limit the number of times you open the door of the oven to check your cooking. Every time you open the oven you release heat that has to be replaced by more electricity!
4. Turn off devices at the socket: Avoid the red-light monster of stand by TVs or other appliances. Even a small trickle of electricity is required by these devices to be ready for you. Just switch them off at the socket.
5. Just charge what you need: When you’re charging your phones or other devices. See how much electricity they need and just charge what you need. It is good for your electricity spending and their batteries.
6. Turn off the lights when you leave a room: When you leave a room, don’t forget to turn off the lights. It just makes sense, but we all forget to do it from time to time. Why use electricity when you don’t need to!
7. Take showers rather than bath: Showers use less energy than filling a bath and if you’re smart sing a song for three minutes and you should be done!
8. Use LED bulbs: Many homes now have LED bulbs and they are a great way to reduce energy consumption particularly when there are shorter daylight hours. LED bulbs can reduce the cost of your lighting by as much as 80%.
9. Use your smart App: Your Pinergy App for example is the best way to see what energy you used yesterday. Why wait for a bill from a traditional energy company when you can see what you used yesterday and make improvements where needed.