30th December 2020:
With the average Brit planning to make three resolutions for 2021, new research from OVO Energy, the UK’s largest independent energy provider, shows that a fifth of Brits (19%) have protecting the environment in mind when making their pledges. After an unexpected year for many, and a news agenda dominated by the global pandemic, it seems that as we enter a new year, the population is keen to focus its attention on the planet, with nearly half (47%) noting that combating excess carbon emissions is more important now than ever before.
However, it’s not only those actively seeking to make greener resolutions that are helping the planet; many are unknowingly making resolutions with unexpected carbon benefits. OVO Energy has worked with carbon experts to put a carbon value on some of the most common resolutions, and created a dedicated list of green alternatives to help the UK easily go green this January.
There were some surprising results:
The full list of most popular planned New Year’s Resolutions for 2021 is:
For those resolutions that have a negative carbon impact, helping to combat this can be easier than many realise. OVO Energy has partnered with carbon experts to devise a list of simple alternative green resolutions that can be easily adopted from home and could reduce the nation’s carbon footprint by up to 1.34mtCO2e (for example, by not leaving their TV on standby). With 53% claiming they’d like to make their home more energy efficient, the list provides guidance on how to do this with minimal effort.
From skipping one hair wash a week (a potential annual saving of 98,000tCO2e if a quarter of the population did this, the same carbon as could be saved by planting 16 million trees), turning all appliances off stand-by (carbon saving 4.2kg per month), to only boiling enough water needed for one cup of tea (carbon saving 0.49kg per month), each of us can play our part to help towards decreasing carbon emissions with simple switches.
As one in five (19%) struggle to find resolution staying power beyond a month, OVO Energy’s alternative green list may just be the help they need. Especially as nearly half (48%) say they would be more likely to keep them up if they were simple and easy, and one in four (25%) would be incentivised if they understood how they benefit the environment.
And the 27% who feel the need to exaggerate their resolutions to appear like a ‘better person’ (a reason for 42% of this group), impress (37%) or sound like they care about the planet (33%), may no longer feel the need for such embellishments. Similarly, the 26% who have previously lied about how long they kept their resolutions may find they’re able to keep them up that little bit longer knowing the positive impact their changes are having on the planet.
Kate Weinberg, Director of Sustainability at OVO Energy, said: “It’s encouraging to see so many resolutions that are low carbon. So many actions that are good for the planet are also good for us all as individuals. It’s useful for everyone to know that making even one easy adjustment to your everyday activity can help to reduce your carbon footprint - if we all make small adjustments they add up and have a meaningful impact. And there’s a feel-good factor from knowing you’re doing something that benefits the world we live in.”
To see OVO’s full list of alternative resolutions, go to www.ovoenergy.com/blog/lifestyle/green-resolutions-2021.html and pick one to add to your list for 2021.
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Notes to editors
OVO Energy commissioned the online survey, conducted by Atomik Research among 2,003 UK adults aged 18+. The research fieldwork took place on 11 - 14 December 2020. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.
OVO Energy’s Alternative Green Resolutions (with measurements 1-10 calculated for OVO Energy by the Carbon Trust)
Top new year’s resolutions and their carbon cost:
Resolution: drinking less alcohol
Population who are making resolutions (41%) = 21,422,997
Resolution: eat less meat
Resolution: reduced screen time
Adding just one simple, green alternative to your list can reduce carbon by up to 1.34 billion kgCO2 (over 734 thousand flights from London to Tokyo)
In 2019, there were nearly 26.8 million households in the UK that had televisions (source Statista Research Department.31 Aug 2020)
By turning all appliances off stand-by the average household could avoid 50 kgCO2e per year (source Carbon Trust)
26.8 million households with televisions x 50kgCO2 = 1.34 million tonneskgCO2
= carbon saving of 734,306 flights from London to Tokyo (Source: BEIS 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2020
From skipping one hair wash a week (a potential annual saving of 98 million kgCO2 if a quarter of the population did this, the same as planting 16 million trees
Annual carbon saving of skipping on hair wash a week = 7.5kg CO2 (Source: Carbon Trust)
UK population of 52,351,213 adults (18 and over. Source: ONS)
A quarter of population = 13,087,803
The average grown tree absorbs 6kg CO2 per year (Source: Carbon Trust)
13,087,803 population x 7.5kgCO2 = 98158524 kgCO2
13,087,803 population x 7.5kgCO2 / 6kgCO2 = 16,359,753 trees
About OVO Energy
OVO Energy was founded in 2009 and redesigned the energy experience to be fair, effortless, green and simple for all customers. Today OVO Energy and its Retail partners serve nearly 5 million customers, all striving to deliver more affordable clean energy for everyone. OVO is on a mission through its sustainability strategy Plan Zero to tackle the most important issue of our time; the climate crisis, by bringing our customers with us on the journey towards zero carbon living. OVO Energy has committed to being a net zero carbon business and achieve bold science-based carbon reduction targets by 2030, while helping members halve their carbon footprint at the same time.