Smart Meters – how has energy use changed?

You know when you were a kid, and your parents used to talk about stuff that happened back in the dark ages when they were young? Well, I have become that parent, that my own kids listen incredulously and somewhat disbelievingly to.

Back in my day…

‘We only had four tv channels’ I muse, as they sit square eyed in front of the latest Netflix offering that is streaming through the tv (pausing occasionally to poke each other and screech because it’s ‘MY TURN NEXT’). I tried to explain the concept of things not being available on demand, of having to wait for a specific time, and of not having childrens tv showing all day, every day, on multiple channels. I think it’s probably as difficult for them to understand as it was for me to understand as a child that life once existed without television at all.

‘TURN THAT LIGHT OFF’ was a frequent shout to be heard when I was growing up too, with Moggy always on our backs (or that’s how we saw it, anyway) about making sure everything was using as little energy as possible when not required to be in use. It obviously worked, because now I can’t leave a room without switching a light off. And I feel her frustration, because my own kids now do exactly what I used to!

The magical dishwasher

Oh, and then there is the dishwasher thing. Another thing that seems completely inexplicable to kids – people actually being excited about kitchen appliances as presents. My Dad had a dishwasher secretly installed in the vegetable cupboard for Moggy’s birthday, and having ordered her to ‘get on with those vegetables for dinner, woman!’ was rewarded with shrieks of delight as her lethargic opening of the cupboard showcased the dishwasher in all it’s shiny clean glory. It was a real novelty then, but now of course a massive percentage of people wouldn’t dream of not having a dishwasher sitting in their kitchen. (I still don’t get that one, if I’m honest. You have to rinse things before they go in the dishwasher anyway, so why not just wash them up and save the loading / unloading effort? If anyone has the definitive answer to that please let me know…).

So basically, things have changed a lot in the last few decades – and that has all had an impact on how much energy we consume. Modern kitchens now often include fancy microwaves, steam irons, self cleaning ovens, enormous two door fridge freezers (still dreaming of that one), intelligent washing machines that KNOW what you are washing and sing when they’re finished, breadmakers, hobs, wireless kettles and multi-slice toasters…as well as a whole host of other small electrical appliances (Bamix, how I love you). I think it’s difficult though to understand exactly what is using what, and when, though – how much energy does that giant fridge freezer actually use, even if it’s ‘A’ rated? And which are the most power hungry appliances? (Basically, anything that heats stuff quickly, from what I’ve learnt).

Smart meters

Smart meters can change all that. Not only can you see in real time exactly what energy you are using (this is how I learnt that kettles, hairdryers and irons really start the numbers spiralling upwards), you can see how much it’s costing you too. No nasty massive bill surprises – and a bit of a damper on the arguments that ‘leaving the light on doesn’t matter’. I’m pretty sure Moggy wishes these were around 30 years ago to prove her point.

At the moment (according to what I have learnt from the radio repeatedly on my commute to work) you can get a smart meter for free from your energy supplier. It can transmit meter readings automatically (no more inconvenient knocking on the door from the utilities man, yay) and can be controlled from smartphone, website or over the phone too. The perfect way to teach the kids that actually, the little things really can make a big difference – and a great way to potentially save some money towards a fun family day out too!