As the UK is set to greet the New Year with increased gas and electricity prices, many Brits will be looking for effective ways to save money on energy. But do they know fact from fiction?

Eager to find out, the experts at Confused.com Energy surveyed Brits to reveal the most common misconceptions about energy among the nation.

  • The biggest energy misconception among Brits (46.3 per cent) is that the heating should be turned off permanently if you go away in winter.
  • Two in five (40.1 per cent) Brits believe that turning up the thermostat higher helps heat your home quicker – it doesn’t!
  • 16 per cent of Brits think solar panels don’t work in winter.
  • Gen Z-ers (18-27 years old) believe eight out of the top 10 misconceptions more than any other generation.
  • Experts at Confused.com Energy explain the truth behind Britain’s biggest myths.

Top 10 most common energy misconceptions among Brits

Rank Misconception Percentage of Brits Responding ‘True’
1 Heating should be turned off permanently if you’re going away throughout winter. 46.3 per cent
2 Turning the thermostat up higher will heat your home quicker. 40.1 per cent
3 Putting clingfilm on windows won’t keep your home warmer. 29.3 per cent
4 The hot water boiler should be kept on at all times. 26.2 per cent
5 Lowering the temperature of your boiler doesn’t reduce energy costs if it is still turned on. 24.2 per cent
6 It’s cheaper to use electric heaters to keep your home warm than central heating. 21.4 per cent
7 Unless connected to a device, chargers left plugged in don’t use energy. 21.3 per cent
8 Placing furniture in front of your radiators has no impact on their efficiency. 20.4 per cent
9 Brits on some tariffs can’t save money by using appliances at off-peak times. 20.0 per cent
10 Leaving lights on continuously saves more energy than switching them on and off. 17.0 per cent

 

The survey revealed the most common energy misconception among Brits is that heating should be turned off permanently if you’re going away throughout winter. A whopping 46.3 per cent believe this to be true and are unaware of the risks it presents to your pipes. The majority of the respondents (49.1 per cent) who believe the misconception are Gen Z-ers (aged 18-27). In fact, eight of the top 10 misconceptions are bought into by Gen Z more than any other generation.

Experts at Confused.com Energy share their insight: “While turning off your heating completely might seem like a good way to save money, it can lead to frozen pipes and costly repairs. To prevent this, keep your home at a minimum of 12°C when away.”

40.1 per cent of Brits believe that turning the thermostat up higher will help heat your home quicker, making it the second biggest energy misconception. More than half of people aged 79+ (50.9 per cent) believe that to be true, while almost half (48.5 per cent) of Baby Boomers (aged 60-78) know that it’s false.

“Although it might be tempting to turn up the thermostat higher when you’re feeling cold, it won’t help warm your home quicker. Doing so will only make your heating system use up more energy and therefore, increase your bill. Rather, set your thermostat to the actual temperature you want and give it time to reach it without wasting energy.”

The third most common energy misconception is that putting clingfilm on windows won’t keep your home warmer, with 29.3 per cent of Brits believing it. A third of 18 to 27 year olds (35.2 per cent) believe the misconception, while over half of those aged 79+ (52.7 per cent) know the truth.

“Covering your windows with a layer of clingfilm can be an easy and cheap way to conserve some heat in your home. By putting clingfilm on each of your windows, you can trap a layer of air, which in turn prevents heat from escaping.”

Believed by 26.2 per cent of Brits, the fourth most common energy misconception is that the hot water boiler should be kept on at all times. One in three 28 to 43 year olds (31 per cent) believe in the misconception and more than half of 60 to 78 year olds (55.5 per cent) know it to be false.

“You don’t need to keep your hot water boiler on at all times, especially if you’re looking to save money. If your heating system runs on gas, oil or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), it’s best to set the system’s timer to ensure you have hot water when you need it. Alternatively, if you’re on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff and you have an electrical immersion heater, it’s best to heat your water during the night; just make sure the tank is well insulated to prevent the water from cooling too quickly.”

When it comes to renewable energy, the biggest misconception among Brits is that solar panels don’t work in winter, with 16 per cent believing this to be true. Surprisingly, the majority who believe that are in the ages between 18 and 27 (29.6 per cent), while the majority who think it isn’t true are 60 to 78 year olds (78.2 per cent).

“One of the most common myths about solar panels is that they don’t work throughout winter or when it’s cloudy, which is actually untrue. Though they are capable of producing more energy while conditions are sunny, solar panels are also effective during grey days, as sunlight still comes through clouds, allowing for energy to be generated. Snow or ice on solar panels could potentially affect the production of energy, but as most solar panels today are self-cleaning, that would only be temporary.”