A little goes a long way
During SpikeHours, which fall during peak times (when the strain is highest on the grid), participating Spike households rally to reduce their energy use by turning off heating or cooling, putting off a load of washing, or giving the TV a break. While these actions may seem small, they can go a long way towards bill savings. Let’s take standby power as an example; appliances left on standby and not turned off at the switch can account for at least 10% of a household’s electricity use. Meaning that by simply turning off unused appliances, you could shave 10% off your electricity bill. And after two years of the program running, Spike members who regularly participate are seeing this pay off.
When we asked members what benefits the program offers, beyond earning points and rewards, a resounding 85% of respondents shared that they feel more in control of their energy use, while a further 87% said they feel like they’re saving money on their household’s electricity bill.
Doing it for Mother Nature
Adopting energy saving habits doesn’t just save members money; it helps the environment too. Consider the energy-guzzling clothes dryer. According to carbon footprint expert, Mike Berners-Lee, a load of laundry washed at 40°C and line-dried creates 0.7kg of CO2e. Whereas a load washed at the same temperature but tumble-dried in a vented dryer, creates 2.4kg of CO2e. That’s a massive difference.
In our survey, 76% of respondents revealed they save energy by not using the clothes dryer (yay!), while an additional 80% avoid the dishwasher, and 85% avoid the washing machine. Think of all those carbon emissions being saved – and think of how much more can be saved if more people joined in? All of these actions make a big contribution to a cleaner future – so, to the 97% of members under thirty who feel participating in Spike is helping the environment, you’re absolutely right!
The end goal
Ultimately, Spike is about helping the grid. When people switch off for an hour during a SpikeHour they’re doing their bit to minimise grid strain and ensure stability to the network; But it’s clear from these survey results the program delivers more than that. It offers fresh and fun ways to reduce energy, helps people feel more empowered, and rewards people for adopting more sustainable habits. Younger members (84% of 18–24-year-olds) even report that joining and taking part in Spike has made it easier to have conversations about energy use in their household since joining.
But the biggest takeaway is that Spike members aren’t just making a difference during SpikeHours. It seems that SpikeHour rituals have become habit, with 81% of members revealing they’ve changed the way they use energy around the house all the time now, helping to manage consumption and reduce their bills.
If more people can play, earn and save with Spike, imagine the difference we can make. Through collective energy saving and shifting energy use to times of the day when energy like solar is in full force, we create a more stable network and more sustainable future – and that’s pretty rewarding.
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