Nearly nine out of 10 people are said to ignore what’s best when it comes to energy efficiency in the home, despite many knowing how to use their household appliances in an energy efficient way.
This is according to a survey of 6,000 homeowners and renters worldwide, commissioned by Beko. The study looked at global consumer attitudes and behaviours concerning energy efficiency and is part of the brand’s latest campaign to shed light on how kitchen appliances are used in the home.
The results showed that the majority of survey respondents admitted to engaging in “energy inefficient behaviours” that are known to waste energy; examples include leaving the fridge door open when deciding what to eat (29 per cent), leaving a freezer plugged in when it’s got nothing in it (20 per cent), and leaving gadgets on charge for longer than they need (37 per cent).
In addition, almost three in five people are worried about choosing the wrong setting when using household appliances, so out of fear they stick to the same, sometimes inefficient setting. This is what Beko called “Settingsphobia”.
However, more generally, the research findings show that globally, 87 per cent of consumers believe in the importance of energy efficiency, and 78 per cent take an interest in purchasing products that look to improve their household’s efficiency.
Akin Garzanli, Chief Marketing Officer at Arçelik, parent company of Beko, said: “We are continually striving to provide high quality products that suit the changing needs of our consumers and of the environment. While we look for ways to innovate solutions to more efficient living, building on our latest SaveWater and popular AquaTech technology, which offers an energy efficient and sustainable home experience, it’s interesting to understand how households are responding and this will help to inform how best we can help as a corporation.”
Breaking the survey results down further, Gen Z came out as one of the most knowledgeable demographics when it comes to energy efficiency – with over 60 per cent of Gen Z respondents claiming to read the instructions whenever they buy a new appliance. Although, this age group often make “accidental mistakes”, such as choosing the wrong settings on the product.
Contrastingly, for those aged over 64, they were found to have a “substantial disbelief” in energy efficient products, but a “strong belief in energy efficient” actions. This group is the least likely to prioritise eco credentials when buying new appliances.
Elsewhere, the survey also offered insights into how attitudes and knowledge regarding best energy efficient practices in the home differ across age groups. People over 64 cited leaving the oven on whilst not in use (56 per cent) and putting the heating on whilst the windows were open to dry clothes (56 per cent) as inefficient practices, whilst almost a third (28 per cent) of Gen Xers admitted to leaving an empty freezer plugged in.
Beko is partnering with Youreko, an energy efficiency tool that calculates the lifetime running costs of appliances, to provide information to consumers on potential cost and energy savings. This feature is currently available for consumers to use on the UK Beko website.
There’s information on how energy efficient the brand’s appliances are compared with least energy efficient models, and how much money its appliances could save consumers in the long-term. The tool supplements the listings of Beko’s washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators which all boast energy efficient technologies within, the company said.
