Switch It Off - Family Challenge

Family Challenge

Between October 2006 and 2009 forty eight families took up the Family Challenge to discover how much electricity their homes use and find out what things use the most.

The Challenge Families were supplied with an Electrisave monitor kit for a week which measured the power a home used and displayed this on a portable unit.

We asked our Challenge Families to keep a diary (PDF - 210 KB) of their experience. This proved a real eye-opener for everyone, with many people reporting that they intended to change their energy habits as a result of the challenge. Completed diaries are available to view.

Everyone who returned their diary was entered into a free prize draw; in 2007 the draw was for a Wattson device sponsored by DIY Kyoto and the lucky winner was Pam Reason of Bishops Itchington.

When presented with her prize, Pam enthused: “Taking part in the Family Challenge was fantastic. It was amazing to have an instant record of what I was using around the home. If I put the kettle on it jumped right up. The lowest I could ever get it down to was 0.5p per hour, and I guess that’s because of my alarm clock, Sky box and other things I just don’t turn off.

“The most it went up to was 94p per hour, which was when the electric shower was on, and even though the shower and kettle were expensive they were never on for long. But the oven sent it up to 30p per hour, and sometimes that would be on for an hour or more when cooking meals.

“It’s wonderful to have won the Wattson, a complete surprise, I’m looking forward to setting it all up now.”

Since taking part in the challenge Pam has also lowered her thermostat to 18 degrees, has put an article in her local parish magazine about saving energy, and given a talk to a WI group on the subject.

In 2006 the competition prize was a week's accommodation in Cornwall and a family pass to the Eden Project, courtesy of Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (WEEAC). The lucky winner was Mike Beard of Leamington Spa.

David Jullien of Act on Energy (formerly WEEAC) presented Mike Beard with his prize. Also present was Jacky Lawrence, Strategic Energy Manager at Warwickshire County Council.

SIO Family Challenge presentation to winner Mike Beard

“It was such a surprise to hear about the competition, I’d completely forgotten about it. I thought it would be interesting to have the Electrisave, and never thought we’d win the competition. We’ve never been the Eden project so we’re all looking forward to it.”

“We really enjoyed having the Electrisave and started working out all kinds of things. We even found ourselves telling friends `do you know your microwave costs you £5 a year just to run the clock!’

“We also found some other surprising things, like how we arranged the things in the freezer made a dramatic difference to its efficiency. We’ve now got energy efficient light bulbs and try and make savings wherever we can.

The Family Challenge formed part of the Switch It Off! Campaign (PDF - 294 KB), raising awareness of energy efficiency across Warwickshire, Coventry and Worcestershire.

Family Challenge Diaries

Thank you to the families who have given us permission to share their experience of living with an electrisave meter. We have removed contact details to ensure privacy.

Anonymous, Warwickshire (PDF - 164 KB)
Cllr Whitehouse, Warwickshire (PDF - 187 KB)
Dave H, Radford Semele (PDF - 183 KB)
David W, Warwickshire (PDF - 189 KB)
Emma F, Henley in Arden (PDF - 172 KB)
John B, Leamington Spa (PDF - 182 KB)
John L, Kenilworth (PDF - 183 KB)
Karen V, Bidford on Avon (PDF - 185 KB)
Liam McL, Warwickshire (PDF - 176 KB)
Louise R, Warwickshire (PDF - 175 KB)
Malloy family, Warwickshire (PDF - 177 KB)
Mike B, Leamington Spa (PDF - 188 KB)
Pam R, Bishops Itchington (PDF - 187 KB)
Pat C, Leamington Spa (PDF - 174 KB)
Paula S, Warwickshire (PDF - 174 KB)
Penny W, Warwick (PDF - 188 KB)
Sheila S, Shottery (PDF - 181 KB)
Woolacott family, Warwickshire (PDF - 185 KB)
Ann L, Warwickshire (PDF - 188 KB)
Kay M, Warwickshire (PDF - 186 KB)
Matthew B, Warwickshire (PDF - 184 KB)
Dawn Y, Warwick (PDF - 179 KB)
Heather R, Warwickshire (PDF - 174 KB)

How do you rate this information / service?

Welcome to Warwickshire County Council

Search Site

Family Challenge
Between October 2006 and 2009 forty eight families took up the Family Challenge to discover how much electricity their homes use and find out what things use the most. The Challenge Families were supplied with an Electrisave monitor kit for a week which measured the power a home used and displayed this on a portable unit. We asked our Challenge Families to keep a diary (PDF - 210 KB) of their experience. This proved a real eye-opener for everyone, with many people reporting that they intended to change their energy habits as a result of the challenge. Completed diaries are available to view. Everyone who returned their diary was entered into a free prize draw; in 2007 the draw was for a Wattson device sponsored by DIY Kyoto and the lucky winner was Pam Reason of Bishops Itchington. When presented with her prize, Pam enthused: “Taking part in the Family Challenge was fantastic. It was amazing to have an instant record of what I was using around the home. If I put the kettle on it jumped right up. The lowest I could ever get it down to was 0.5p per hour, and I guess that’s because of my alarm clock, Sky box and other things I just don’t turn off.
“The most it went up to was 94p per hour, which was when the electric shower was on, and even though the shower and kettle were expensive they were never on for long. But the oven sent it up to 30p per hour, and sometimes that would be on for an hour or more when cooking meals. “It’s wonderful to have won the Wattson, a complete surprise, I’m looking forward to setting it all up now.” Since taking part in the challenge Pam has also lowered her thermostat to 18 degrees, has put an article in her local parish magazine about saving energy, and given a talk to a WI group on the subject.
In 2006 the competition prize was a week's accommodation in Cornwall and a family pass to the Eden Project, courtesy of Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (WEEAC). The lucky winner was Mike Beard of Leamington Spa. David Jullien of Act on Energy (formerly WEEAC) presented Mike Beard with his prize. Also present was Jacky Lawrence, Strategic Energy Manager at Warwickshire County Council.
“It was such a surprise to hear about the competition, I’d completely forgotten about it. I thought it would be interesting to have the Electrisave, and never thought we’d win the competition. We’ve never been the Eden project so we’re all looking forward to it.” “We really enjoyed having the Electrisave and started working out all kinds of things. We even found ourselves telling friends `do you know your microwave costs you £5 a year just to run the clock!’ “We also found some other surprising things, like how we arranged the things in the freezer made a dramatic difference to its efficiency. We’ve now got energy efficient light bulbs and try and make savings wherever we can. The Family Challenge formed part of the Switch It Off! Campaign (PDF - 294 KB), raising awareness of energy efficiency across Warwickshire, Coventry and Worcestershire. Family Challenge Diaries Thank you to the families who have given us permission to share their experience of living with an electrisave meter. We have removed contact details to ensure privacy. Anonymous, Warwickshire (PDF - 164 KB) Cllr Whitehouse, Warwickshire (PDF - 187 KB) Dave H, Radford Semele (PDF - 183 KB) David W, Warwickshire (PDF - 189 KB) Emma F, Henley in Arden (PDF - 172 KB) John B, Leamington Spa (PDF - 182 KB) John L, Kenilworth (PDF - 183 KB) Karen V, Bidford on Avon (PDF - 185 KB) Liam McL, Warwickshire (PDF - 176 KB) Louise R, Warwickshire (PDF - 175 KB) Malloy family, Warwickshire (PDF - 177 KB) Mike B, Leamington Spa (PDF - 188 KB) Pam R, Bishops Itchington (PDF - 187 KB) Pat C, Leamington Spa (PDF - 174 KB) Paula S, Warwickshire (PDF - 174 KB) Penny W, Warwick (PDF - 188 KB) Sheila S, Shottery (PDF - 181 KB) Woolacott family, Warwickshire (PDF - 185 KB) Ann L, Warwickshire (PDF - 188 KB) Kay M, Warwickshire (PDF - 186 KB) Matthew B, Warwickshire (PDF - 184 KB) Dawn Y, Warwick (PDF - 179 KB) Heather R, Warwickshire (PDF - 174 KB)