Brits increasingly using tracking tech to feel more in control

• With technology a massive part of daily life in the UK, new data reveals that three quarters (74%) of Brits use tech to track elements of their lives
• The most common things people track are their steps, exercise levels and home energy use
• Nearly a quarter (23%) of Brits now track their gas and electricity use at home, up from 15% a year earlier – with many using their smart meter to help with this
• Smart Energy GB have created a Top of the Pops-style video to reveal the ‘Top tracks’ across Britain

More Brits than ever are using technology to track parts of their lives.

Three quarters (74%) of us are using tracking technology as part of our daily lives, up from 69% a year ago. And two-thirds (66%) of people who use tracking technology say it helps them to keep on top of their lives, which can be even more important during tough times.

While counting steps and tracking exercise levels are the two ‘top tracks’ for British adults, monitoring energy usage is now in third place.

Since the cost-of-living crisis began, there has been a more than 50% increase in the number of people using tech to track their spending (up from 12% to 19%), and there has also been a notable rise in the number of Brits monitoring their gas and electricity usage. Nearly a quarter of us (23%) now use technology to track how much energy we use at home, compared to 15% in February last year.

And a smart meter can be a vital tool in doing this, with three in five people who have a smart meter saying it allows them to keep track of their energy use at home (59%), and see how much they spend on energy (57%).

A smart meter’s in-home display shows how much energy you use in near-real time and in pounds and pence, allowing you to track and manage your energy use throughout the day.

In fact, 89% of people find their in-home display useful, with 38% using it more this winter than last, polling conducted in early February found.

As tracking technology becomes an ever-increasing part of our lives, polling commissioned by Smart Energy GB has lifted the lid on how much we rely on it.

Almost a third of Brits (31%) admitted that they use technology to track part of their life multiple times a day, while one in ten (10%) do this more than once an hour.

This could be anything ranging from energy use to checking blood pressure readings, steps, hours of sleep, screen time, or spending habits.

But the most common thing that Brits are keen on keeping an eye on is their personal health. Around half of us use technology to track elements of our health (47%) and fitness (50%).

A whopping 80% of adults who track aspects of their health admit that they’re more conscious of their health since they started using technology to do this.

And over half (57%) said that seeing how other people are doing on fitness and health apps acted as motivation for them to keep going with their own fitness goals.

Victoria Bacon, Director of Communications at Smart Energy GB, said: “This data shows that us Brits are keen to be on top of all aspects of our lives, and during a cost-of-living crisis, it’s not hard to understand why. Technology can help us to feel more in control of our health and finances.

“It's really important that people use tech in a way that works for them and their lifestyle, and we know that may mean different things for different people. For instance, nine in ten people with a smart meter tell us that they find the in-home display (IHD) useful, but that doesn’t mean everyone wants to use the IHD in the same way. Some may want to check it once or twice a week, others several times a day. Do whatever works for you.”

Smart Energy GB has produced a video of Brits’ ‘Top tracks’, which is available to watch at www.smartenergygb.org

Contact your energy supplier to request a smart meter installation, or visit smartenergygb.org.