Elite Sporting Squad Assembled to get Britain Energy Fit

• In a bid to help the nation get 'Energy Fit for the Future', an elite sporting squad has been assembled to encourage everyone to do their bit.
• We're a nation of upgraders, with 71% of Brits recently upgrading to a flatscreen TV, 63% to a laptop/tablet and 51% from a DVD player to a streaming service.
• But one thing that has been left behind is the very thing that powers these gadgets - our energy system.
• 66% of us don't know how old our analogue gas/electricity meters are, and still haven't upgraded to a new smart meter, yet some could be as much as 40 years old.
• The squad includes Mr Motivator MBE, boxing legend Nicola Adams OBE, British long jump athlete Greg Rutherford MBE, and professional footballer Kelly Smith MBE.

Expecting our outdated energy system to meet Britain's needs is like trying to race a kilometre time trial on a penny farthing, play a grand slam with a wooden racket or shoot level par around a links course with a hickory golf club, according to new campaign launched today (Tuesday 27th April 2021).

Smart Energy GB has assembled an elite squad of athletes to demonstrate that if you don't have the right equipment for the job, you won't be as efficient. Fitness legend Mr Motivator, boxing champion Nicola Adams, British long jump athlete Greg Rutherford, and professional footballer Kelly Smith have teamed up to encourage Brits to help get Britain Energy Fit for the Future by getting a smart meter installed.

With research released today revealing that we are a nation of upgraders, with more than 2 in 5 of us (43%) upgrading our phones every two to three years, and almost two thirds (63%) updating or PCs to laptops or tablets, the squad have come together to highlight that the one thing we still need to upgrade is the infrastructure that powers these gadgets - our energy system.

And with modern technology developing at a rapid pace, it seems that Brits are keen to keep up, with the research showing that 71% of us recently upgraded to a flatscreen TV, 51% from a DVD player to a streaming service and 37% from a radio to a smart speaker. Smart appliances are also becoming more popular, with 14% of Brits recently upgrading to a smart fridge/freezer and 16% now owning a smart washing machine.

However, despite regularly upgrading gadgets that are powered by electricity, one area where our appetite to modernise lags behind is the energy system itself. With over half of Brits hoping for a future powered by reliable, cheap, clean energy (51%) and filled with electric cars (47%) and smart appliances (44%), we need to upgrade our energy system, with smart meters at its heart, to help Britain perform at the top of its game.

With 31% of respondents stating that it is important for them to have the most up-to-date gadgets and electrical devices, and 59% agreeing that it is important that they have the most energy efficient gadgets possible, smart meters should be top of the upgrade to-do list. Yet 66% of us don't even knowhow old our existing gas and electricity meters are, even though some could be nearing their 40th anniversary.

Commenting on the campaign, Mr Motivator said:

"I get so much joy empowering people to get up and be more active - this has been my life mission. One important lesson I have learnt is that you need the right mindset and equipment to get to the very top of your game, and that applies just as much to our energy system as to top sports people. Expecting our outdated energy system to meet Britain's growing needs is like trying to win a race on a penny farthing or play a grand slam with a wooden racket. One thing people can do to help, without even getting off their sofa, is to get a smart meter installed."

Robert Cheesewright, Director at Smart Energy GB, said:

"The world moves on, so we're all used to upgrading things like our car, mobile phone or television. Now we all need to do our bit to help get Britain Energy Fit for the Future, and getting a smart meter is one easy upgrade we can make to help our energy system to be top of its game. Smart meters help modernise the energy system and mean that in the future it can better support the things millions of Brits are looking forward to, like cheaper, clean, renewable energy and electric vehicles."

To make sure Britain enjoys a cleaner future, our nation requires a major upgrade to its energy infrastructure. Smart meters, which replace traditional, analogue meters, are the foundation of this more reliable, clean and affordable smart energy system. They will allow Great Britain to better manage energy use, transition to mass uptake of electric vehicles and to build a greener economy.

Watch Mr Motivator, Nicola Adams, Greg Rutherford and Kelly Smith show why we all need to do our bit to help get Britain Energy Fit for the Future at https://www.smartenergygb.org/energy-fit-for-the-future.

-ENDS-

For more information: [email protected]

Research Methodology:

The research was conducted by One Poll between the 09 - 13 April 2021 with 2000 UK adults (nationally representative).

ABOUT SMART METERS AND THE ROLLOUT

Britain is committed to a cleaner future - one with zero carbon, zero emissions and reduced pollution.

To make this happen, our nation requires a major upgrade to its energy infrastructure. Specifically, it requires the creation of a smart energy system. Smart meters, which replace traditional, analogue meters, are the foundation of a more reliable, clean and affordable energy infrastructure, allowing Great Britain to better manage energy use, transition to mass uptake of electric vehicles and to build a greener economy.

There are already over 23 million smart meters installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Every household in England, Scotland and Wales can now see their energy use in near real time, receive accurate bills and do their bit for the planet, by requesting a smart meter, at no extra cost, from their energy supplier.

ABOUT SMART ENERGY GB

Smart Energy GB is the campaign for a smarter Britain. It's our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to be cleaner and greener with their energy use. Our national campaign is reaching households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website smartenergyGB.org.