More than a quarter (27%) of households are unaware of how much they’ve spent heating their home this winter, according to a new study from smart home expert, Hive.
The data revealed that almost a third (30%) of Brits are worried about how much their energy bills will cost as the cold and wet weather continues, with a quarter (25%) admitting to not being in financial control of their heating altogether.
The research also found that more than one in three (35%) Brits manually control their home’s heating without a thermostat or smart heating technology – which could lead to the system being used more than necessary and higher bills.
To help Brits remove the guesswork when it comes to heating, Hive is offering its 2 million customers a free 30-day trial of its energy management tool Hive Heating Plus (accessible from the Hive app), which could save them up to £26 per month this winter.
The personalised service provides insights on how much customers are spending on their heating in real time, how to stay within their personal budget, improve energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
This is in addition to the Hive smart thermostat and app that not only saves around £200 on your energy bills, but also gives users greater control and transparency over their spend.
Customers who already have a Hive thermostat installed will be notified on how to activate their free subscription and will have the chance to continue to use the service for only £19.99 a year – a 50% discount off the annual price.
Gavin Murray, Director at Hive, said: “With the cold snap hitting the UK this week, for many, this means increased worry around how much their heating bills will cost and how much they’re spending each day.
“Having greater control over your heating can ensure that you’re heating your home in the most efficient way possible – which can unlock significant savings and cut your home carbon emissions.”
The study also found that almost half (49%) of Brits have not set a budget to manage their heating costs, with three in ten (30%) claiming to be worried about their bills because they don’t know much they’ll be charged.
Murray continued: “Our Hive Heating Plus service makes it easier than ever before to track your heating usage – it removes any guesswork around your bills and shows you precisely how much energy you’re using on heating and what it costs to heat your home, so you can optimise your monthly budget and prevent energy wastage. It also instantly alerts you if it detects a potential issue that might be impacting the efficiency of your heating system and guides you to fix it.”
